Aroldis Chapman Age: Did Aroldis Chapman Retire?

Aroldis Chapman Age: Did Aroldis Chapman Retire?

Aroldis Chapman is not retired. Aroldis Chapman is 33 years old and still playing professional MLB for the New York Yankees in his second stint after playing for the Cubs in 2016.

The Yankees re-signed Chapman to a $86 million, five-year contract on December 15th, 2016. As of 2017, this was the highest deal ever awarded to a reliever.

Due to rotator cuff irritation in his left shoulder, Chapman was put on the 10-day injured list on May 14, 2017. For at least two weeks, Chapman was ruled out due to structural damage. Against the Oakland A’s on June 18, the Yankees activated Chapman from the DL and he threw the game.

Rafael Devers of the Boston Red Sox hit a solo shot off Chapman on August 13. In the Statcast era, this was the fastest pitch ever hit for a home run (breaking Kurt Suzuki’s previous year’s home run off a 102 mph Chapman pitch).

He also gave up Chapman’s first left-handed hit since Luke Scott of the Baltimore Orioles smashed one in 2011 against him. Yonder Alonso of the Seattle Mariners crushed one of Chapman’s 101 mph fastballs out later in the month, giving up only Chapman’s third home run off a left-hander.

In 2017, he had the top fastball velocity in baseball, averaging 104.3 mph. In 2017, his four-seam fastball averaged 99.7 mph, the highest of any MLB pitcher’s pitches.