Aroldis Chapman Update (With Video)

Chapman Wowing Teammates

Aroldis Chapman might start out in the minor leagues this season but that does not mean he is not talented enough to start in the majors. Chapman faced live hitters for the first time in over eight months and his Reds teammates were highly impressed.

“He was nasty. All the pitches – slider, changeup and the fastball,” said catcher, Wilkin Castillo. “We used the fastball much more because it was the first day, but all the pitches were there in the zone. He wasn’t wild. I thought he’d be a little wild because he’d gone a long time without pitching.”

Although the hitters are weeks behind the pitchers, that did not keep the hitters from trying to make contact, although very few did. Chapman even impressed himself.

“I thought I was going to hit a lot of batters, but I focused on the mitt and where to throw the pitches and it went well.’ “I’d never gone such a long time without facing batters,” Chapman told Jorge L. Ortiz of USATODAY. “That was my only concern, how I was going to react. But I put that worry aside and it couldn’t have gone any better. I’m happy with the results.”

Chapman signed a six-year contract, worth $30.25 million in early January with bonus totals nearing $16.25 million, paid annually over eleven years, and he is arbitration eligible in either 2012 or 2013.

One of the hitters who faced Chapman was journeyman IF Chris Burke, and he walked out of the box and said:

“That’s a nice little repertoire there. Somebody should sign this kid. He’s got a chance.”

He’s got more than a chance, buddy. Video below of Chapman taken by John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

@MatAnaya