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Aroldis Chapman News & Rumors

Aroldis Chapman remains mystery off the field
May 27
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"In the midst of the best stretch of his professional career, Reds pitcher Aroldis Chapman had a miserable week. On the field, the man with the dazzling fastball was finally named the closer for his red-hot team. He picked up saves against the Yankees and the Braves and then a win. Remarkably, he has not allowed a single earned run all season. Off the field, things were not so good. At 12:42 a.m. Monday, Chapman was pulled over for allegedly driving 93 miles per hour in Grove City, just south of Columbus. The officer arrested him after he discovered Chapman had a suspended Kentucky driver's license, according to a police report. It's at least the fourth time Chapman has been caught speeding"
Aroldis Chapman dials it up on officers' radar guns
May 23
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"The word "speed" would relate to "Aroldis Chapman" in a word association game – and now not only for his fastball. The 24-year-old Cuban native – with the fastest recorded pitch in Major League history at 105 mph – was arrested early Monday morning outside of Columbus for driving 93 mph on Interstate 71. It's at least the fourth time he's been caught speeding since he was issued a Kentucky driver's license two years ago. His first ticket was issued in August 2010 in Spencer County, Ky. Then he got another in May 2011 in Gallatin County, Ky., according to his record, provided by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet."
Reds pitcher Aroldis Chapman arrested after traffic stop
May 22
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman was arrested after he was caught driving 93 miles per hour in Grove City early Monday, according to police. Police said Chapman, 24, was pulled over for speeding in a black 2010 Mercedes S63 on Interstate 71 North near Interstate 270 at about 12:42 a.m. Chapman was arrested after the officer discovered he had a suspended Kentucky driver's license, according to a police report."
Aroldis Chapman should start for Reds
May 21
Cincinnati Enquirer
 columnist Paul Daugherty
"Maybe Aroldis Chapman can start, go six innings, take a breather in the 7th, set himself up in the 8th and save his own win in the 9th. That would answer some questions. Meantime, it's clearer than ever that the Reds don't know what to do with their Missile. It's equally clear that for now, it doesn't matter. Start him? That's why he was hired in January 2010. That's what he has been groomed to do, theoretically, even as he has done everything but. The Big Man didn't welcome Chapman into his wallet so the Cuban defector could pitch the 7th and/or 8th innings. Until Sunday, Chapman was the best setup man in the game. Using him that way was like displaying the Hope Diamond in a coal bin."
Chapman closer plan is day-by-day
May 21
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Before Sunday's game, Reds manager Dusty Baker said Aroldis Chapman was the club's new closer. But he wasn't sure if he was available to pitch Sunday. Then Baker talked to Chapman. "He said he was fine," Baker said. "My inclination was not to use him before we asked him. We go on an honor program here. Let us know if you're not right, you're tired or achy or whatever. This is his time. We've got a long way to go. "August and September might be a different scenario. Right now, we're trying to get these guys strong through the whole season." Chapman pitched a relatively easy ninth to record the save in the Reds' 5-2 win over the New York Yankees. He didn't allowed a hit or walk a batter. But"
Reds considering moving Chapman to closer
May 19
MLB.com
 
"There could be a change coming in the Reds' closer role, with manager Dusty Baker hinting late Saturday afternoon that he might turn from Sean Marshall to Aroldis Chapman. There was bumpy ending to Cincinnati's 6-5 victory over the Yankees. For the second time in 10 days, Marshall could not complete a save and needed to be bailed out. "Like I've said before, you've got to graduate to that position," Baker said of Chapman. "Who knows? Maybe graduation time is here. We've got to talk about it. As a matter of fact, I've already talked to him about it. We'll see. Marshall is a team man. It's not what he signed up for. He was forced into it. He signed up to be our setup man in the eighth.""
Baker: Chapman where he's needed
May 17
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"With the Reds in New York, the subject of what lies in the future for left-hander Aroldis Chapman came up. Reds manager Dusty Baker said the plan remains the same: Chapman will start in the future – but it sounded like not in the immediate future. "Someday, yeah," Baker said. "But right now, we need him in the 'pen. We lost (Ryan) Madson. We lost (Bill) Bray. If he wasn't in the position he's in, we wouldn't be in the position we're in. This guy hasn't given up a run. He's gotten people out of trouble. He's won games. "Imagine where we'd be without him in this role right now. Plus, he can't be everything. There's people who want him to start. There's people who want him to close. There's"
Feet on ground, sky's the limit for Aroldis Chapman
April 24
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"The pitch was 99 mph. On the inside corner. Ian Stewart watched helplessly as it zipped past his knees and into Ryan Hanigan's mitt for the called third strike. Inning over. Bases-loaded threat stifled. The pitch, which came in the seventh inning of Sunday's 4-3 Reds victory over the Chicago Cubs, evoked some "un" words – unhittable, unfair, unbelievable. The pitch illustrated perfectly why Aroldis Chapman has been arguably the most dominant pitcher in baseball so far this season: When he can throw it where he wants it, the hitter has virtually no chance. Chapman, a 24-year-old Cuban left-hander, has thrown 10 1/3 innings this year. He's allowed three hits and no runs. He's walked two and"
Is Aroldis Chapman a starter in waiting for Cincinnati Reds?
April 14
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Joey Votto is a pretty good authority on what it takes for a pitcher to be effective. Votto, after all, is the Reds' leading expert on hitting. Votto thinks Aroldis Chapman can be something the Reds have been longing for since Jose Rijo's elbow blew up: A true No. 1 starter. The day Votto signed his big deal, he referred to Chapman as just that – "our future ace" – without prompting. The rub is the Reds have to put Chapman in the rotation to move toward that, and time is ticking away for their decision in one sense. If they decide to move Chapman to the rotation shortly, it will be a relatively easy transition. Chapman was stretched out in the spring training. He threw 89 pitches in his"
Aroldis Chapman not available to pitch in road opener
April 13
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Left-hander Aroldis Chapman was not available to pitch Thursday after going two innings and 35 pitches Wednesday. "He may not be available (Friday) either," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "It depends on how he feels." If Chapman had gone one inning, he'd be available. He's being treated like everyone in the bullpen – to a degree. "We treat him like any other reliever, but we've got a lot invested in the guy," Baker said. "Time, future and money. We're aware of that. We're always aware of that – with anybody. "We know they're all not available." Alfredo Simon wasn't available Wednesday. Logan Ondrusek wasn't Thursday. "This early, guys are trying to get acclimated to back-to-back days and"
Reds get walk-off win over Cardinals
April 12
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"His game-winning hit made Chris Heisey happy to discuss why he hits better as a pinch hitter than as a starter. Yet, Heisey cannot figure out why. Pinch hitter Heisey lined a walk-off RBI single to left-center field and the Reds beat St. Louis 4-3 on Wednesday afternoon. "I can't really explain why I'm more relaxed pinch-hitting than I am when I'm up there in a late-game situation after being a starter," Heiey said. "It just seems to work better pinch-hitting, and I don't have any reason to explain that.""
Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman continues to impress
April 12
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Aroldis Chapman has been virtually untouchable in his relief outings this season, including another lights-out show to help beat St. Louis on Wednesday. Left-hander Chapman (2-0) earned the win with two scoreless innings. The fan favorite "Cuban Missile" reached the upper 90s per usual with his fastball, allowed one hit, struck out five and walked none. Chapman this year is unscored upon in five innings, has allowed only two hits and struck out 10. He has not walked a batter after struggling with control last year (50 innings, 41 walks). "Eventually he'll be a starter but right now, where would we be without him in the bullpen?" Reds manager Dusty Baker said."
Janish optioned, Chapman to bullpen
April 3
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"The Reds set their roster today, optioning Paul Janish to Triple-A. "It was a very hard decision," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "Paul's part of the family. He still is." The Reds will go with 11 pitchers out of camp. Left-hander Arolidis Chapman goes to the bullpen for now. "He's a starter," Baker said. "He got a chance to be very good starter. But Billy Bray isn't ready to be late-inning lefty right now. Chapman knew it, with (Nick) Masset and (Ryan) Madson being out.""
Baker: Chapman had family issues
March 15
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Reds manager Dusty Baker said today that Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman may have been preoccupied with some family issues last season. Chapman is pitching today's first game here in Goodyear today (4:05 p.m. vs. SD). Today's pre-game media session began with a question about when the Reds might decide if Chapman will start or relieve, for the near term. "Pretty soon," Baker said. "A lot of it depends on Billy Bray's health, too. Billy's still on the shelf. A lot of it depends on the health of the rest of the starting pitching too. It'll work itself out. Everybody wants this definitive answer, and I can't give it to you. There's too much that can happen between now and the start of the"
Aroldis Chapman back to Reds bullpen?
March 9
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Left-hander Bill Bray's groin injury could lead to Aroldis Chapman being shifted back to the bullpen. With pitchers, groin injuries take time to heal and can lead to serious problems. Bray missed two weeks of throwing immediately after the injury. He had to shut it down Wednesday after feeling pain in a live bullpen session. "We thought we gave him enough time last time," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "There comes a point when we've got to decide if there's enough time or not to get ready. We've got the luxury of three lefties in the bullpen – or potentially three lefties." That includes Chapman. "That's a pretty good backup plan," Baker said. "As it is, we've got six starters anyway.""
What's the plan for Aroldis Chapman?
February 22
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Reds manager Dusty Baker spoke Tuesday about the plan for Aroldis Chapman, who is preparing to be a starting pitcher. "We're going to stretch him out to see if there's time," Baker said. "If there's not time and there's not quality, you can always back off a guy (return him to bullpen)." Chapman started the transition in the offseason, but he was shut down with shoulder tightness before a start in the Arizona Fall League. That kept him from playing winter ball. "We would have had an answer by now if things had gone to plan with Instructional League, Arizona Fall League and Puerto Rico," Baker said. "But it barely got through the Instructional League and Fall League and we had to shut him"
Chapman out to prove worth as starter
February 22
MLB.com
 
"Now in his third Spring Training for the Reds, the novelty about Cuban export Aroldis Chapman has worn off quite a bit. There is still curiosity about the left-hander who can throw a 105 mph fastball, but it's less about the pitcher and more about the role in which he will be throwing that kind of heat. Starter or reliever? Chapman has the answer in his mind already. "I am mentally and physically prepared to be a starter," Chapman said through interpreter Tomas Vera. "I feel I've worked real hard to do this. I am thinking like a starter and feel like I will be able to pitch all the innings they want me to pitch here in Spring Training.""
Chapman still ticketed to start
December 18
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"The Reds still plan to have left-hander Aroldis Chapman prepare as a starter this spring training. By adding right-hander Mat Latos, the Reds have Johnny Cueto, Latos, Bronson Arroyo, Mike Leake and Homer Bailey in line for rotation spots. Still, given Chapman's enormous potential, they plan to convert him to a starting role. "We're still planning on him starting," Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said. "That's what his been training and conditioning for. We can always change later on." Chapman went to the Arizona Fall League to prepare as a starter and was set to pitch in winter ball. But he was shut down because of shoulder tightness. He's healthy now and should be able to go on the"
No Winter Ball for Aroldis Chapman
November 10
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Left-hander Aroldis Chapman will not pitch in Winter Ball after all. "We've decided against sending him to Puerto Rico," general manager Walt Jocketty said. "He's on a strength-and-conditioning program in Arizona. He'll go to Florida after that and continue to work out." Chapman made two appearances in the Arizona Fall League. He was scheduled to start Oct. 31, but he scratched with shoulder stiffness. The plan was to go to Puerto Rico to pitch in winter ball after the Oct. 31 start with hopes of building up to five innings as part of Chapman's transition back to starting."
Chapman misses AFL start with sore shoulder
October 31
MLB.com
 
"Aroldis Chapman was scratched from his planned Arizona Fall League start on Monday because of a sore left shoulder. The Reds' left-hander made two relief appearances for the Phoenix Desert Dogs last week in the AFL. "He had a little inflammation in his shoulder," said Reds general manager Walt Jocketty. "It was probably from trying to do too much, too soon. He didn't do a lot before going down there." Chapman, who threw 2 2/3 innings of relief and gave up one hit and one run, was pitching in the AFL to begin a transition towards becoming a starter next season for Cincinnati. He was expected to start some games and stretch out his arm in Puerto Rican winter ball next month."
Aroldis Chapman's first start Monday
October 27
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Aroldis Chapman continues to build toward starting. He'll make his second appearance Thursday in the Arizona Fall League for the Phoenix Desert Dogs. He's scheduled to go two innings. He will make his first start in the Arizona Fall League on Monday. In his one previous appearance, he threw a hitless inning, walking one and striking out one. "After the three outings in Arizona, he'll go to Puerto Rico and pitch in Winter Ball for a month," Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said. "Hopefully, we can get him up to five innings.""
Chapman pitches inning in Arizona Fall League
October 25
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Reds left-hander Aroldis Chapman made his Arizona Fall League debut Monday. He pitched one hitless inning for the Phoenix Desert Dogs. He walked one and struck out one. He threw 16 pitches, eight of which were strikes. Chapman will pitch again Thursday and Monday. He is building up his innings as part of his conversion back to starting. After the outings in the AFL, Chapman will pitch in winter ball. John Fay RED SOX: Ben Cherington is set to become the new general manager today, replacing his former boss, Theo Epstein. Cherington's promotion from assistant general manager will be announced today at a news conference. It had been expected for several weeks while the Chicago Cubs were"
Price says Chapman suited for rotation
September 3
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Reds pitching coach Bryan Price does not have the only vote, but if it were up to him Aroldis Chapman would be starting next season. "I can't guarantee anything because it will be an organizational decision," Price said. "However, I do think at some point he's going to have a chance to start. I think it's something we will definitely be looking at. "He's filled a need for us. He helped last year late in the season and this year as the second left-hander to Billy Bray (out of the bullpen). That was a void. But I would think in the near future he'll be getting an opportunity to start. "That was the intent when we initially signed him." Price thinks starting works best because it would give"
Everything went wrong for Chapman during freefall
July 9
Yahoo! Sports
 columnist Jeff Passan
"The precipice of success for athletes is one of those Wile E. Coyote situations. They're cruising along, all footloose and fancy free, ignorant to the cliff off which they're about to step. The drop is steep and harrowing, the sort that kicks you awake from a nightmare. Only it's not a cartoon. Aroldis Chapman's freefall lasted nearly two months. He forgot how to throw a ball over a 17-inch-wide, house-shaped slab of white rubber, and while that's a minor inconvenience for most, it's Chapman's job. The Cincinnati Reds left-hander has been in the major leagues for less than a year since defecting from Cuba and signing a $30 million free-agent deal, and all he did in his debut season was"
Chapman already has had season worth of ups and downs
July 9
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Aroldis Chapman's season is one of the great mysteries of this baseball season. Let's break his season into three segments: Segment 1: 12 games, 112/3 innings, 4 hits, 0 runs, 8 walks, 13 strikeouts Segment 2: 4 games, 11/3 innings, 2 hits, 10 runs, 12 walks, 3 strikeouts Segment 3: 6 games, 6 innings, 2 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 12 strikeouts Of course, a lot happened between Segment 2 and 3. Chapman was placed on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation. He spent five weeks on the DL. He made a total of nine rehab appearances. Seven of them were not good. He had an 11.12 ERA at Triple-A Louisville and a 6.14 ERA at Double-A Carolina. But since his return from the DL, he's been better than"
Chapman hurls perfect ninth in return from DL
June 26
MLB.com
 
"Whatever was broken with Aroldis Chapman's pitching, it seemed to be fixed on Saturday night. In his first game back since being activated from the disabled list, Chapman struck out the side in the ninth inning to close out a 10-5 Reds win over the Orioles. "Chapman appears to be back," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "He was throwing high velocity and kept the ball down for strikes and elevated when necessary.""
Reds activate Chapman from DL
June 25
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"The Reds are whole for pretty much the first time all season. Pitcher Aroldis Chapman was activated from the disabled list before Friday's series opener against the Baltimore Orioles. He had been on the disabled list since May 16 because of inflammation in his left shoulder. "It means we have another quality left-hander," manager Dusty Baker said. "We'll try to get him into a less pressurized situation." Chapman was in no mood to talk about what it took to get back to the majors."
Reds activate Chapman from disabled list
June 24
MLB.com
 
"The Reds on Friday activated lefty reliever Aroldis Chapman from the 15-day disabled list and optioned lefty reliever Jeremy Horst to Triple-A Louisville. Chapman had been on the DL since May 16 with left shoulder inflammation, but he has been physically healthy for some time now. However, the southpaw was given extended time to get his command together after experiencing wildness and mechanical issues. This season for the Reds, Chapman has 20 walks and 15 strikeouts in 13 innings and a 6.92 ERA over 16 games."
Chapman, LeCure ready to go -- whenever
June 20
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Aroldis Chapman's rehab time is up Tuesday. The Reds aren't ready to say what's next. "No decision," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. Chapman had his best outing on his rehab assignment Saturday for Double-A Carolina. He went two perfect innings and struck out three. He threw 21 pitches, 14 of which were strikes. "Good," Baker said. "That's what I asked him to do. He's got to end strong and work (his) way back here. You pitch your way back. You just don't have the name and come back. You pitch your way back here. That's what I asked (trainer) Tomas (Vera) to have him do. Now, we'll see." Chapman could pitch again for Carolina or Louisville today or Tuesday. He could also be optioned to the"
Chapman heads to Double-A for rehab
June 8
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"The Reds sent left-hander Aroldis Chapman to Double-A Carolina Tuesday to restart his rehab assignment. Chapman made three rehab appearances for Triple-A Louisville. The most recent was on May 29. He spent the last week working with pitching coach Bryan Price in Cincinnati. The decision to send him to Carolina was purely for convenience. The Mudcats are home. The Louisville club is on the road. "It doesn't matter as much the competition as it does just getting on the mound," manager Dusty Baker said. "His main competition is himself, not who he's pitching against." Chapman was not successful in two of his three Louisville outings. He was 0-1 with 13.50 ERA overall. He allowed nine hits and"
Chapman needs more minors adjustment
June 6
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Aroldis Chapman probably will pitch more in the minors before rejoining the Reds, manager Dusty Baker said Sunday. Will it be another stint with Triple-A Louisville? "Probably," Baker said. "Probably soon." The left-hander last made a rehab appearance with Louisville on May 29. Chapman has been working with the Reds in Cincinnati since then. With Louisville in three rehab appearances, Chapman is 0-1 with a 13.50 ERA in 4 2/3 innings (nine hits, seven earned runs, two walks, eight strikeouts, one balk, two wild pitches, 85 pitches, 59 strikes). Chapman has been on the disabled list since May 16 with inflammation in his left shoulder. Chapman was very wild in his most recent Reds outings. In"
Chapman resumes throwing from mound
May 21
MLB.com
 
"Reds left-hander Aroldis Chapman has resumed throwing on the side as he tries to return from left shoulder inflammation. Chapman did some long tossing in the outfield at Progressive Field on Friday, then threw off of the mound in the bullpen with pitching coach Bryan Price supervising. It wasn't the first time Chapman has thrown. "We've been working a little bit on some light stuff. That was probably the heaviest he's thrown," Price said. "We've been trying to get the delivery back together. I think that, at times, has been a little bit taxing to his arm. It's not wholesale changes, but we're trying to make sure the timing is right." The 23-year-old Chapman has been on the 15-day disabled"
Reds put Aroldis Chapman on DL
May 17
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"The Reds are hoping left-hander Aroldis Chapman's inability to throw strikes is a physical thing. The club placed him on the 15-day disabled list Monday and recalled right-hander Jordan Smith from Triple-A Louisville. Chapman won't throw off the mound for a week or so. Chapman was shut down for four days earlier in the season. "It's like we did last time," trainer Paul Lessard said. "We'll treat him to get a calmed down so he has a pain-free range of motion before we start cranking. After a couple of days, it should be calmed down." Chapman did not have an MRI. "It was symptomatic like it was the last time," Lessard said. Reds manager Dusty Baker thinks Chapman will return when the two"
Chapman again walks on wide side
May 16
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Aroldis Chapman has lost it, and the Reds are trying to find where it went. Chapman's control, that is. Chapman, the so-called Cuban Missile, had yet another wild outing Sunday, when he walked four of the five batters he faced and recorded only one out. All four walks eventually scored in the St. Louis ninth inning, as a comfortable 9-2 Reds lead shrank to the eventual 9-7 final score. Chapman, whose famous fastball has touched 106 mph on stadium radar readouts, suddenly cannot get that or any other pitch over the plate. "It's so disheartening, because he has so much talent and he's such a fine young man," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "At the same time, you hate to see that happen to him"
Baker: Minors not option for Chapman
May 11
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Aroldis Chapman walked three and hit a batter and left without getting an out Tuesday. Nick Masset came in and bailed him out. But Chapman was charged with three runs. It was second straight outing that he's failed to retire a batter in. After 12 scoreless appearances, he's given up six runs in his last three outings."
Chapman hits 106 mph on radar
April 19
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Reds left-hander Aroldis Chapman, who got the last three games off to get over a tender elbow, worked the ninth inning of Monday night's loss to the Pirates and threw a pitch that registered 106 mph on the scoreboard but was clocked at 103 on another pitch tracker. That was one of the only highlights of the night for fans that stayed around for a 9-3 loss. Chapman worked a 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout. His velocity was back, to say the least. The scoreboard readout clocked a pitch to Andrew McCutchen at 106 mph. Several others were 103."
Time to get Chapman straight
April 15
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"You can't judge a fastball by a radar gun. Just because the gun at Great American Ball Park measured Aroldis Chapman's flame at 105 miles an hour doesn't mean it wasn't 104, or 103. The same applies on the road. Road radar is sometimes purposely inaccurate. What better way to get into the head of a gunslinger like Chapman than to post his mph at several miles below what it actually is? But this wasn't that. This was not some scoreboard guy at Petco Park playing April Fool's with the kid from the other team with the freakishly fast fastball. This was trouble. Something is amiss with Cincinnati's prized recruit. It could be as simple as Chapman being physically unable to pitch on consecutive"
Would-be starter Aroldis Chapman could be future closer
March 19
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"The Reds' long-term plan with pitcher Aroldis Chapman always has been to make him a starter. And that still might be where Chapman, a 23-year-old Cuban, winds up. But general manager Walt Jocketty mentioned Friday another possible role for Chapman for the first time: closer. "We would still leave (starting) as an option," Jocketty said. "He definitely could be a top-of-the-rotation guy. He's either going to have to do that or be a closer. I don't see him being a setup guy forever." But Chapman will be a setup guy to begin this season. Reds manager Dusty Baker has been very clear that Francisco Cordero is his closer. Cordero and right-handed setup man Nick Masset both are in the final year"
Chapman is a transcendent talent
March 14
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Who was the last Reds rookie to have the "phenomenal-ity" of Aroldis Chapman? The closest I could come up with is Johnny Bench. But Bench debuted 15 years before the advent of the ESPN era, before round-the-clock, updated-by-the-second sports highlight shows had become the standard. Reds' Triple-A catcher Devin Mesoraco is as well known as Bench was when Bench first came up in late 1967. Yes, Mesoraco, 22, is a fine prospect. But if he was Johnny Bench, he'd have been in the majors three years ago. There was nobody tooting Bench's horn on national TV in 1966, a year before he got to the big leagues. And yet, the other night I heard former Cleveland Indians general manager John Hart say on"
Chapman: 'It's going to be a better year for me'
February 18
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Bryan Price noticed while Aroldis Chapman was warming up. It was Chapman's big league debut on Aug. 31 of last year. Much of the crowd of 19,218 had made its way out to the overlook behind the Reds' bullpen to get their first look at phenom. When Chapman was called in, the crowd - moving like a golf gallery - rushed to get behind home plate to get a prime view. "I've never seen anything like it," Reds pitching coach Price said. "I've never seen that kind of anticipation of a pitcher's debut." Chapman blew the hype away with fastballs. Four of the eight pitches he threw topped 100 mph. Two others were 98. A legend was born. This is the encore year for Chapman, the 23-year-old Cuban"
Aroldis Chapman will stay in bullpen for Reds
January 5
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Not signing Arthur Rhodes was the move that tipped the decision to keep Aroldis Chapman in the bullpen at least for the start of 2011. While Chapman is left-handed like Rhodes, don't expect Chapman to simply move into Rhodes' role. "He's capable of filling a lot of roles," Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said. "He can set up. He can go more than one inning. He's very versatile. He can help us a lot." Chapman, the 22-year-old Cuban, has stuff so electric that he is effective against both left-handers and right-handers. Lefties hit .154 off him last year, right-handers hit .212 off him. "For me, we have two guys where it doesn't matter whether they're facing left-handers or right-handers"
Chapman may stay in bullpen -- for now
November 3
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Aroldis Chapman did not get a $30.25 million dollar contract to be a relief pitcher, but Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said Tuesday that Chapman might remain in the bullpen next season. Jocketty said the Reds still project Chapman as a starter, long-term. Questions arose again last week after manager Dusty Baker, interviewed on Sirius XM's Mad Dog Radio, said the Reds were uncertain about Chapman's role. "I see him personally being somewhere in the back end of the bullpen," Baker said on the radio show. "Because it's hard to find a guy that can get righties and lefties out equally and that gas he has, and you haven't even seen his breaking ball and his changeup yet, so his potential"
If only Jays could have landed Chapman
October 9
Toronto Sun
 
"It was just a glimpse and not a flattering one at that, but even on a night when everything went wrong for him, it's easy to see why Alex Anthopoulos is kicking himself for not staying the course on Aroldis Chapman, a superstar in the making. The young Cuban defector, who was signed for $30 million US last winter by the Reds, who outbid the Blue Jays, was left naked by his defence and gave up three unearned runs in his one inning of work (the seventh). But it's easy to see why scouts are drooling over him. The lithe lefty unleashed one pitch at 102 m.p.h. and was consistently around 100 with his fastball and at 92 with his slider. The umpire felt he nicked Chase Utley with a pitch and, he"
Chapman tops out at 105 mph vs. Padres
September 25
MLB.com
 
"The Padres got their first taste of Reds reliever Aroldis Chapman on Friday night, and the five batters that faced the Cuban lefty saw what plenty of others around the league already have in the past month. The San Diego hitters were handed a heavy dose of fastballs. Really, really hard fastballs. But on this night, Chapman raised the bar even higher. Chapman threw 25 pitches on Friday -- each of them registering at least 100 mph -- and set a new personal best with one pitch that clocked in at 105 mph and three that reached 104 mph. "I'll go on record and say that's the best velocity I've seen," Padres manager Bud Black said. "That's a legit No. 1 [fastball]." Chapman's fastest pitch"
Reds won't use Chapman in closer role
September 16
MLB.com
 
"Reds manager Dusty Baker had a spririted defense of closer Francisco Cordero when asked if Aroldis Chapman should take over in the role. "It hasn't changed," Baker said. "Chapman just learned how to relieve. That eighth inning and seventh inning is a whole lot easier than that ninth inning. Is this the place to experiment with that? With the guy that hasn't been there? In case he doesn't do it, do I go back to Coco and say 'hey man, I was just kidding.' Then you lose both of them." Baker did leave the door open a some about what he might do in the postseason. "There's a situation like Price in Tampa Bay in the playoffs [in 2008]. If that comes up, we'll see," Baker said. "In the meantime,"
Chapman not down after first hits, run
September 7
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Reds reliever Aroldis Chapman got hit. The Rockies strung together three straight hits against him and scored three runs – two inherited, one unearned – but Chapman was not the dominant pitcher he was in his first three outings. Chapman, a 22-year-old Cuban with the $30 million left arm, was unfazed by the off day. "That's nothing," he said through a translator. "It's part of the game those things happen." Chapman entered the game in the sixth with runners on first and second and two outs. He gave up a bloop RBI single to Eric Young Jr. Dexter Fowler followed with a hard groundball that shortstop Paul Janish stopped. But Janish fell down on the play. He threw high to second, allowing"
Fireballing pitcher prove that speed thrills
September 5
Seattle Times
 columnist Larry Stone
"The Slugging Era is being replaced by the Age of the Radar Gun. For a long time — let's say 1988 through 2005 — baseball fans got their jollies watching mammoth hitters crank tape-measure drives into the stratosphere. Fifty homers became relatively commonplace; the 61-homer barrier that stood for 37 years was shot past six times by three men in a four-year span; and even 70 was touched by Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds. Then came BALCO, Senate investigations, increased drug testing and the Mitchell Report. Magically, bodies returned to normal proportions — and so did slugging numbers. Now, however, a new fixation is developing among fans (and, yes, media), one that is also predicated on"
Related: Reds' rookie pitcher dazzles with blazing speed
September 4
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Somewhere between 0.35 and 0.39 seconds. That's how much time it takes an Aroldis Chapman fastball to reach home plate. Meanwhile, it takes the average human eye between 0.30 and 0.40 seconds to complete a blink. In short, if you blink, you might miss a Chapman pitch - literally. Then again, the pitch could be an 89 mph slider, which will change its flight pattern just before that brief time elapses. Or it could be Chapman's changeup, which might blow the mind altogether. Not to worry, though. There is 0.35 to 0.39 seconds to figure it out. "Everyone is all excited about it, but we've already seen it," Cincinnati Reds teammate Jonny Gomes said. "We saw it in spring training. The most"
Chapman improved during season
September 2
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Except for the 100-plus mph fastball, the Aroldis Chapman of Tuesday night bore no resemblance to the starting pitcher I watched make his pro debut in Toledo in early April. I knew only two things for sure when I first saw Chapman five months ago: He's a long drink of water, and man oh man, he's at least a full year away from the big leagues. But I liked what I saw in the ease of his delivery. With his long stride, his Holquin heat was going to be on hitters like Ohio Valley humidity. But he wasn't throwing enough strikes in Toledo. His breaking ball wasn't great. He couldn't - or didn't want to - throw his changeup for strikes. In the big leagues, where a starting pitcher needs three or"