"Aroldis Chapman is coming off arguably the best season of his career, believe it or not. He posted a 1.17 ERA over 67 appearances. He was so good that it's almost impossible for him to repeat that performance, and that's okay. If he's even 90% of the pitcher he was in 2025, he's still one of the game's best closers."
"The key for Chapman is throwing strikes. Last season, he posted a career low 6.6% walk rate. His fastballs, a four-seam and sinker, are what he's known for. They averaged 98 and 99 mph, respectively, and had strike rates of 74% and 67%. The four-seam had a swinging strike rate of 15.6%, while the sinker had an insane 21.5% swinging strike rate."
"Ahead in counts, he turned to a slider that was untouchable, returning a 34% putaway rate and a whiff on about one in every three pitches. He also used a splitter that caused hitters to chase at a 42% rate and whiff on one in every four pitches. The stuff is overpowering, and Chapman was in the zone enough to harness it."
Aroldis Chapman had arguably the best season of his career in 2025, posting a 1.17 ERA across 67 appearances. His success stemmed from improved strike-throwing ability, particularly a career-low 6.6% walk rate that made him virtually unhittable. Chapman relied primarily on two fastballs—a four-seam averaging 98 mph and a sinker at 99 mph—which comprised about 75% of his pitches. The four-seam generated a 15.6% swinging strike rate while the sinker produced an exceptional 21.5% swinging strike rate. He supplemented these with a slider featuring a 34% putaway rate and a splitter causing 42% chase rates. While repeating his 2025 performance is unlikely, Chapman remains capable of handling ninth-inning duties effectively if healthy.
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