Pirates lefty Aroldis Chapman ties record for fastest recorded strikeout pitch at 104.7 mph

When Aroldis Chapman painted the inside corner with a sinker for a called third strike, all San Diego Padres star Manny Machado could do was stare back at the Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander in stunned silence.

Chapman stood on the mound in his statuesque staredown pose before cracking a smile when Machado said something — Chapman wouldn’t reveal what — as the PNC Park crowd roared with approval.

That the pitch was clocked at 104.7 mph only made the moment bigger, as it tied Ben Joyce of the Los Angeles Angels for the fastest recorded strikeout since pitch-tracking data started to be compiled in 2008. Joyce hit the same mark against J.D. Martinez for the final out to earn the save in a 5-4 win over the New York Mets on Aug. 3.

104.7 MPH

THAT TIES BEN JOYCE FOR THE FASTEST STRIKEOUT PITCH IN THE PITCH-TRACKING ERA (2008) https://t.co/fS6X7oSR8S

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) August 8, 2024

“With Chap, you just know that you never know what you’re going to see,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said.

The 36-year-old left-hander, a seven-time All-Star whose 325 career saves rank third among active players, topped triple digits on the radar gun 13 times in a scoreless eighth inning of a 9-8 loss to the Padres in 10 innings on Tuesday night.

All six of Chapman’s pitches against Machado topped 100 mph, and his final four all exceeded 102. The six-time All-Star third baseman fouled off a pair of sinkers clocked at 102.7 and 103.2, respectively, before taking a 105.1-mph sinker for a ball low and inside.

Aroldis Chapman is 36 years old. pic.twitter.com/kxZhnqZpAT

— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) August 8, 2024

That Chapman has touched triple digits for a 15th consecutive season is one thing. This marked the eighth time in his career that Chapman’s velocity hit 105 mph but the first time since 2016.

“I think I’ve had a long career already,” Chapman said through interpreter Stephen Morales. “I don’t think I need to show people what I can do because I’ve done it already for many years. I don’t think I have to show anything else anymore.”

Chapman was more concerned with his ability to maintain his mind-boggling velocity and throw 21 of his 29 pitches for strikes, considering he’s averaging 7.2 walks (against 14.8 strikeouts) per nine innings this season and has four blown saves in eight opportunities.

Finding his fastball command was an issue Chapman appears to have overcome. Chapman did so with runners on second and third base, after it was ruled that he hit Luis Arraez with a pitch and then gave up a single to Ha-Seong Kim. Chapman’s fastball velocity increased from 98.3 to 99.1 to 101.3 on his first three pitches to Xander Bogaerts before getting him swinging at a 101.9-mph sinker for a strikeout.

Then Chapman froze Machado to finish the frame.

“It feels good to be in that spot right now,” Chapman said. “I struggled a little bit earlier in the season. And as a pitcher, that’s what you want. You just want to be ahead in counts and attacking the strike zone, and I think I’m in a pretty good spot right now.”