12 Years Later, Aroldis Chapman Receives Guinness Record for Fastest Pitch in MLB History

December 12, 2023

More than a decade has passed since Cuban Aroldis Chapman dazzled baseball fans by recording the fastest pitch in the Major Leagues, something that has now been validated to be recognized and immortalized by Guinness World Records.

Cuban pitcher Aroldis Chapman received the certificate last Friday that makes him the holder of a Guinness Record for the fastest pitch registered in the history of the Major Leagues, something he achieved in 2011 when he threw a fastball at 105.8 miles per hour while wearing the uniform of the Cincinnati Reds.

In a video posted on his social media, 'The Cuban Missile' appeared surprised to receive this recognition 12 years after establishing that mark, and thanked the Guinness World Records organization, which recognizes the greatest records in different fields worldwide.

"Thank you @guinnessworldrecords for the recognition and the certificate. Record for the fastest registered pitch speed in MLB history, at 105.8 MPH," wrote the left-handed MLB reliever.

Aroldis Chapman achieved this mark one year after his debut in the Major Leagues, on April 18, 2011 when he faced Andrew McCutchen in a game between the Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates and threw an unhittable fastball that ended up in the record books, but was not recognized until 12 years later.

Initially, the scoreboard at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati registered the pitch at 105 MPH, but shortly after it became known that the pitch had a higher velocity, the same one for which this Friday the two-time World Series champion has been awarded.

It is said that there have been pitchers who have had faster fastballs, however at those times the technology currently used did not exist, so those marks were not registered and therefore cannot be recognized with certainty.

The 35-year-old left-hander arrived in the Major Leagues in 2010 after dazzling 'scouts' with his brilliant performances in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, representing his native Cuba. He immediately began to show signs of the great talent that has led him to be considered one of the best relievers of the last decade.

In a total of 14 seasons in MLB, Chapman displays a lifetime ERA of 2.53 with a record of 50-40 and 321 saves in a total of 728 games in which he has worked 698.1 innings to leave a WHIP of 1.084.

Additionally, throughout his career he has been selected to the All-Star Game seven times and won two championships. He has worn the uniforms of the Reds, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Royals, and Texas Rangers.

He is currently in free agency, but has been seen training with the intention of securing a new contract for 2024.