Aroldis Chapman (born February 28, 1988, in Holguín, Cuba), nicknamed "the Cuban Missile," is a Cuban-born American relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, famed for his blazing fastball velocity. After a failed defection attempt in 2008 that led to a meeting with Cuban president Raúl Castro, he successfully defected in 2009 and signed with the Cincinnati Reds in 2010. Over his long MLB career, he has pitched for the Reds, Yankees, Cubs, Royals, Rangers, and Pirates, winning the 2016 World Series with the Cubs and the 2023 World Series with the Rangers, while earning nine All-Star selections. He holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest pitch in MLB history at 105.8 mph (170.3 km/h) and holds the all-time record for career strikeouts by a reliever, alongside his membership in the 300-save club. Chapman also holds the record for the longest streak of consecutive relief appearances with a strikeout, striking out a batter in 49 straight games between 2013 and 2014, and he joined the Boston Red Sox in 2025.