When Aroldis Chapman, left‑handed reliever for Boston Red Sox, confirmed a story that had gone viral across baseball forums, the narrative suddenly stopped being a rumor and became a talking point in every locker room. Boston’s backup catcher Carlos Narváez, catcher stepped in on a Tuesday morning in March and told reporters the whole thing happened during spring training, not in a press conference. The gist? A simple electronic cue from a rookie catcher forced a 38‑year‑old "Big Unit"‑of‑the‑pen to rethink how he spots a fastball.
How a Simple Pitch Command Shifted a Veteran’s Game
For most of his career, Chapman was known for sheer velocity – the sort of arm that could make hitters flinch before the ball left the mound. What he lacked, critics often noted, was consistent location. That changed when Connor Wong, young catcher paired up with PitchCom, the wireless system that lets a catcher press a button and instantly transmit the pitch call to the pitcher’s earpiece. On a breezy March day at Fort Myers, Wong pushed the button for an "inside fastball" while Chapman was winding up. "The light bulb went off," Chapman's teammate later recalled. "He’d never been asked to ‘spot’ a fastball before, just to fire it down the middle."
Behind the scenes, Jason Varitek, run‑prevention coach was listening in on the PitchCom feed. Varitek, a former Red Sox captain turned strategist, nudged Chapman to think "aim small, miss small," a mantra he’d used with younger arms. Within a week, Chapman’s command was tighter, his pitch mix more varied, and his confidence visibly higher.
Spring Training Spark: The PitchCom Moment
The podcast that first aired the story was ESPN’s "Baseball Tonight" with host Buster Olney. Olney described the scene with a mix of awe and humor: "Connor was using PitchCom, pushed ‘inside fastball,’ and Chapman actually said, ‘I never thought about spotting my fastball.’ That’s the moment you realize a legend is still learning." The clip blew up on Twitter, Reddit’s r/baseball, and even the Red Sox’s own fan forum, sparking memes of Chapman holding a GPS device while on the mound.
Stat Sheet: Chapman's 2025 Surge
Numbers speak louder than anecdotes. Since the "inside fastball" revelation, Chapman’s statistics have vaulted him into the conversation for the longest hitless streak in modern MLB history. Below are some key figures from the 2025 season (as of Sept. 12):
- Earned Run Average (ERA): 1.53, down from 3.87 the previous year.
- WHIP (Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched): 0.82, a career‑best.
- Strikeouts per nine innings (K/9): 13.4, edging his 2022 peak.
- Innings pitched in the first half: 44.2 – the most by any Red Sox reliever since 2004.
- Hitless innings streak: 41⅔ innings (ongoing), trailing only Orel Hershiser’s 59‑inning record.
One of the defining moments came on September 7, 2025, against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Chapman delivered a four‑strikeout ninth, fanning Blaze Alexander and Ildemaro Vargas before a dropped third‑strike error allowed Vargas to reach. Even with that baserunner, Chapman closed out the inning with two more punch‑outs, preserving a 5‑3 win and snapping Boston’s three‑game losing streak.
Reactions: Teammates, Fans, and Media
Inside Fenway, the mood shifted from curiosity to admiration. Shortstop Rafael Devers told reporters, "Seeing Aroldis find new ways to attack hitters reminds us all that the game’s never static. If he can reinvent himself at 38, we can all keep grinding."
Fans took to the @RedSoxLive hashtag, posting videos of themselves chanting "Inside, inside, Chapman!" while waving red mitts. A particularly viral clip showed a kid in Boston’s South End drawing a PitchCom diagram on a napkin and explaining it to his grandmother, who replied, "So he finally learned to aim? Good for him!"
The media, meanwhile, ran deep‑dive pieces questioning whether technology like PitchCom could extend the careers of aging arms across the league. One analyst at The Athletic wrote, "Chapman’s case is a blueprint: combine veteran velocity with modern communication, and you get a late‑career renaissance."
What Lies Ahead for Boston’s Bullpen
With a 68‑58 record, the Red Sox sit in a three‑way American League Wild‑Card race that includes the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays. Chapman's stability gives manager Alex Cora, manager a reliable late‑inning option, allowing the team to lean on younger starters without fearing a late collapse.
Looking forward, the club plans to keep Chapman for the remainder of the season, despite his one‑year, $11 million contract ($10.8 million reported by some sources). The front office also hinted at experimenting with PitchCom in other bullpen roles, hoping to replicate the "inside fastball" magic for left‑handed reliever Jared Walsh.
Should Chapman sustain his hitless streak, he could officially challenge Hershiser’s record and perhaps rewrite the narrative of “age‑related decline” in baseball. For now, the story remains a reminder that even a seasoned big‑arm can learn something new when technology meets a fresh voice in the catcher's gear.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did PitchCom change Chapman's pitching approach?
PitchCom let catcher Connor Wong instantly signal an "inside fastball" to Chapman. That concrete location cue forced Chapman to focus on spotting his fastball rather than simply throwing hard down the middle, resulting in tighter command and a dramatic drop in his ERA.
What impact has Chapman’s resurgence had on the Red Sox’s Wild‑Card chances?
His reliable late‑inning outs have turned close games into wins, helping Boston climb to 68‑58. The bullpen’s newfound stability keeps the team within striking distance of both the Yankees and Rays in the AL Wild‑Card race.
Is Chapman on track to break the longest hitless streak record?
As of Sept. 12, 2025, he’s logged 41⅔ hitless innings, trailing Orel Hershiser’s 59‑inning mark. If he maintains his current pace, the record is within reach before the season’s end.
What do teammates say about Chapman’s new mentality?
Shortstop Rafael Devers praised the veteran’s willingness to adapt, saying it sets a tone for the whole clubhouse. Coach Jason Varitek highlighted how the PitchCom cue sparked a “focus on precision” that rippled through the staff.
Will other teams adopt PitchCom after Chapman’s success?
Analysts expect a surge in PitchCom usage league‑wide. The technology proved it could extend a veteran’s effectiveness, prompting several clubs to experiment with it for both relievers and starters during the offseason.