At 38 years young, Aroldis Chapman is still a force to be reckoned with on the mound, hurling fastballs that leave batters swinging at air and carving his name into the annals of baseball history. Earlier this year, Chapman surpassed the legendary Rich “Goose” Gossage to claim the second spot on the all-time reliever strikeout list.

Now, with 1,356 career strikeouts as of June 2, he’s on the cusp of overtaking Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm to seize the all-time record. Just eight more strikeouts stand between Chapman and this monumental achievement.

In a season where the Red Sox have faced their share of challenges, Chapman has been a beacon of reliability, shutting down games with his signature ferocity. The question on everyone’s mind: How soon will the left-handed fireballer surpass Wilhelm?

Here’s a look at the current leaderboard for career strikeouts by MLB relievers:

1. Hoyt Wilhelm – 1,363 strikeouts
2. Aroldis Chapman* – 1,356 strikeouts
3. Rich Gossage – 1,340 strikeouts
4. Craig Kimbrel* – 1,299 strikeouts
5. Kenley Jansen* – 1,297 strikeouts
6. Lee Smith – 1,225 strikeouts
7. Billy Wagner – 1,196 strikeouts
8. Rollie Fingers – 1,183 strikeouts
9. David Robertson – 1,175 strikeouts
10. Jesse Orosco – 1,169 strikeouts

(*Active players)

Chapman’s not just making waves with strikeouts. Earlier this season, he cracked the top 10 on the all-time saves list and is eyeing a move past Dennis Eckersley by season’s end. Among active pitchers, he’s third in saves, trailing only Kenley Jansen and Craig Kimbrel.

Here’s the breakdown of the MLB career saves leaders:

1. Mariano Rivera – 652 saves
2. Trevor Hoffman – 601 saves
3. Kenley Jansen* – 483 saves
4. Lee Smith – 478 saves
5. Craig Kimbrel* – 440 saves
6. Francisco Rodriguez – 437 saves
7. John Franco – 424 saves
8. Billy Wagner – 422 saves
9. Dennis Eckersley – 390 saves
10. Aroldis Chapman* – 379 saves

(*Active players)

For Red Sox fans, here’s the upcoming schedule, giving Chapman ample opportunities to add to his impressive stats:

• June 2 vs. Orioles at 6:45 p.m.
• June 3 vs. Orioles at 6:45 p.m.
• June 4 vs. Orioles at 1:35 p.m.
• June 5 at Yankees at 7:05 p.m.
• June 6 at Yankees at 7:35 p.m.
• June 7 at Yankees at 1:35 p.m.
• June 8 at Rays at 6:40 p.m.
• June 9 at Rays at 6:40 p.m.
• June 10 at Rays at 1:10 p.m.
• June 12 vs. Rangers at 7:10 p.m.

And let’s not forget Chapman’s impressive 2026 stats so far:

• Games: 19
• Innings pitched: 18.2
• Win-Loss: 0-1
• ERA: 0.48
• WHIP: 0.86
• Saves: 12
• Strikeouts: 25
• Walks: 7

Aroldis Chapman continues to defy the odds and age, proving that he’s not just a veteran presence but a dominant force in the bullpen. Keep an eye on him as he closes in on history.