When the Boston Red Sox signed Alex Bregman, he drew rave reviews for how he contributes both on and off the field. He’s been described as an extra coach at times, always helping others improve.
He’s not the only team leader the Red Sox acquired this offseason, though. The team signed Aroldis Chapman last winter, and while he’s been excellent on the mound, his clubhouse contributions have gone under the radar.
On the field, Chapman has been excellent. He hasn’t allowed a hit in over a month, and his 1.02 ERA is a career low. It was announced on Sunday that Chapman had signed a contract extension to remain with the Red Sox through at least 2026, with an option for 2027.
The extension wasn’t just earned because of his on-field performance, though.
“He’s very quiet, you see him in the clubhouse, but he knows the game, he’s been through a lot. I know in that bullpen, his voice, it means something,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said.
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Chapman has been the anchor at the back of the Red Sox bullpen. In close games, the team almost always turns to Garrett Whitlock and Chapman for the final two innings. They’ve done an excellent job of managing their workloads, but may need to lean on them more frequently as they push for the playoffs.
“You think about guys that impact the team, we always talk about Alex [Bregman] and then Trevor [Story], but quietly and in his own way, he’s one of the leaders of this team,” Cora said.
Featured image via Jordan Johnson/Imagn Images
