Aroldis Chapman's historic 2025 season boosts Hall of Fame case 

Overall, in 54 innings pitched to this point, Chapman has a 1.00 ERA and a .115 opponents' batting average. 

To no surprise, Chapman was officially named the American League Reliever of the Month for August. 

Factor in his 28 saves, 77 strikeouts and 0.65 WHIP, and Chapman is on pace to complete one of the best seasons of his entire 16-year MLB career.  

The last time Chapman approached a season like this was almost 10 years ago in 2016. Back then, he finished with a 1.55 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, exactly 90 strikeouts and 36 saves from time spent with both the New York Yankees and the Chicago Cubs. 

After a midseason trade to Chicago, Chapman helped the Cubs win the franchise's first World Series title since 1908 with 21 strikeouts, four saves and two wins in 13 appearances throughout that postseason. 

And while he's unlikely to steal the Cy Young Award from Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, Chapman may very well earn some votes, something that's normally reserved for a reliever who makes history. But, of course, Chapman is doing just that.  

In fact, Chapman's 2025 stacks up with a reliever who did take home a Cy Young for his work as a shutdown closer.

Eric Gagne's 2003 is often referred to as the gold standard for closers. Gagne recorded 55 saves in 82.1 innings, but he did so with a slightly higher ERA than Chapman's at 1.20. Gagne's WAR (Wins Above Replacement) for 2003 stands at 3.7, just a bit higher than where Chapman is right now at 3.3. 

It's not to say Chapman's 2025 is on level with Gagne's 2003 — the former Dodgers phenomenon still has a significant edge in most other important categories. However, Gagne failed to put together a full career worthy of Cooperstown. 

Chapman, though, may have done enough. 

The Cuba native is sitting on a career with 363 saves, a 59-47 record, a 2.52 cumulative ERA and 1,323 strikeouts in 814 innings pitched. He's an eight-time All-Star, two-time World Series champion (2016 Chicago Cubs, 2023 Texas Rangers) and was named the 2019 American League Reliever of the Year. 

With the doors to Cooperstown open to more relievers every year, including 2024 inductee Billy Wagner, it's safe to say putting together a historically great season at an advanced age will do wonders for Chapman's Hall of Fame case.