WATCH: Aroldis Chapman Lights Up Radar Gun With Fastest Recorded Pirates Pitches

PITTSBURGH — Age is apparently just a number for Aroldis Chapman, who at 36 years old, is still among the hardest throwers in the league.

Chapman’s 98.4 mph average fastball velocity is in the 98th-percentile in the league. If that’s not proof enough, the flamethrower provided all the evidence needed in the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-8 loss to the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.

Manager Derek Shelton called for Chapman out of the bullpen to handle the eighth inning. The left-hander dealt with a pair of baserunners and labored through 29 pitches, but his final two pitches of the night made the 21,528 fans in attendance do a double-take at the radar gun at PNC Park.

In an 0-2 count against Padres’ cleanup hitter Manny Machado, Chapman fired a 105.1 mph sinker that missed down and out of the zone.

Aroldis Chapman just threw a 105.1 MPH sinker…..

Ties the hardest pitch ever thrown since 2015

2437 RPM, 9 inVB, 11 inHB pic.twitter.com/JLaxtCYuZp

— Platinum Ke’Bryan (@PlatinumKey13) August 8, 2024

On the very next pitch, he hit 104.7 mph on another sinker that caught Machado looking for strike three. The two pitches were the hardest thrown pitches thrown by a Pirates’ player since pitch tracking started in 2008.

Manny Machado was left speechless by this Aroldis Chapman 104.7 MPH fastball 😮 pic.twitter.com/w8opxiHUIO

— MLB (@MLB) August 8, 2024

Chapman turned back the clock in his relief appearance against the Padres. Though his 105.1 mph missile was the ninth pitch of 105-plus mph in his career, it was his first since he was a 28-year-old on the Cubs in 2016.

How does he do it? How does he maintain this level of velocity 15 seasons into his career?

“Being consistent and dedication for sure, Chapman said through coach/interpreter Stephen Morales. And I put a lot of effort, a lot of hours into what I do to get ready for baseball season.”

Prior to his two pitches on Wednesday, the previous record for fastest pitch in Pirates’ history was 104.0 mph. That pitch also came from Chapman in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Pittsburgh on June 5.

Given some prolonged struggles for Colin Holderman and a few recent hiccups from closer David Bednar, Chapman’s importance in the Pirates’ bullpen is growing. Fortunately for the Pirates, Chapman has gotten stronger as the year’s gone on.

Dating all the way back to May 29, Chapman has a 2.49 ERA in 25 appearances. Over his last eight innings, he’s only allowed one run and has struck out 14 batters. He’s also been credited with the win in his last three decisions during that stretch.

Chapman’s ERA on the season now sits at 3.59, the lowest it’s been since before he allowed his first runs of the season on Apr. 15.