Aroldis Chapman
Encyclopedia
Albertin Aroldis Chapman de la Cruz (born February 28, 1988) is a Cuban
-Andorran
Major League Baseball
pitcher
for the Cincinnati Reds
. Chapman bats and throws left-handed. He is listed at 6'4" (193 cm) tall and weighing 195 pounds (88 kg). He currently holds the record for the fastest recorded pitch speed in Major League Baseball
, throwing 105.1 mph (169.1 km/h). He was also clocked by one radar gun at 106 mph (170.6 km/h) in a game against Pittsburgh, although there is some controversy as to the actual speed.
at the 2009 World Baseball Classic
. He played domestically for Holguín in the Cuban National Series
.
Chapman's stats during his time in Cuba
:
in the spring of 2008, Chapman was brought to Havana
to meet with Cuban President Raúl Castro
who gave him a conditional reprieve, suspending him for the remainder of the National Series
season and also keeping him off Cuba's national team for the Beijing Olympics
, but allowing him to return to the National Series and play in the World Baseball Classic
.
A few years after Alexei Ramírez
defected, Chapman successfully defected from Cuba while in Rotterdam
, Netherlands
where the Cuban national team was participating in the World Port Tournament
on July 1, 2009; Chapman walked out the front door of the team hotel and entered into an automobile driven by an acquaintance. Chapman eventually established residency in Andorra
and petitioned Major League Baseball
to be granted free agent status.
with the Cincinnati Reds
.
The Reds announced that they had signed Chapman to a six-year contract, worth $30.25 million according to MLB sources. The Associated Press
reported that the bonus totals $16.25 million, paid annually over eleven years, with an additional bonus if he becomes eligible for salary arbitration in 2012 or 2013.
Chapman began the 2010 season assigned to the Triple-A Louisville Bats
, and made his professional debut with the Louisville Bats on Sunday, April 11, in Toledo against the Mud Hens
, where he pitched 4.2 innings, giving up 1 unearned run, while striking out 9.
Chapman made his major league debut August 31, 2010, in the eighth inning against the Brewers
; his first pitch was clocked at 98 miles per hour (158 km/h) as a called strike (which was promptly tossed to the dugout by catcher Ryan Hanigan
, to be saved) and in the same inning was measured at up to 103 miles per hour (166 km/h). In nine pitches he retired the side. He recorded his first major league win on September 1 after pitching an inning of relief against the Brewers.
, Chapman's fastball has been clocked as high as 103 mph (166 km/h) (during the 2010 Minor League season), and in his second career appearance for the Cincinnati Reds Chapman threw a fastball clocked at 103.9 mph (167.2 km/h). In his first 19 career pitches, 10 hit triple digits and his fastball averaged 101.3 mph (163.0 km/h). He also throws a plus slider and an average changeup. Scouts worry about his control issues and lack of a solid third pitch, noting that these issues could affect his ability to be a major league starter. Sports Illustrated
writer Joe Posnanski
described Chapman thusly: "There is no violence at all in his motion; he’s like the anti-Bob Gibson
in that way. Just a slow beginning, a fluid motion, and BLAMMO the ball just fires out like the Batmobile rolling out of the cave."
On September 24, 2010, against the San Diego Padres
, Chapman was clocked at 105.1 mph (169.1 km/h), according to pitch f/x
, which is the fastest pitch ever recorded in Major League Baseball.
On April 18, 2011, Chapman threw a pitch to Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen
that the scoreboard at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati clocked at a speed of 106 mph (171 km/h), although the box on Fox Sports Ohio’s broadcast listed it at 105 mph (169 km/h) and the pitch f/x system calculated a release speed of 102.4 mph (164.8 km/h). The disparity between these velocities has been widely discussed and questioned.
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
-Andorran
Andorran
Andorran may refer to:* Something of, or related to Andorra* A person from Andorra, or of Andorran descent. For information about the Andorran people, see Demographics of Andorra and Culture of Andorra. For specific Andorrans, see List of Andorrans....
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. Chapman bats and throws left-handed. He is listed at 6'4" (193 cm) tall and weighing 195 pounds (88 kg). He currently holds the record for the fastest recorded pitch speed in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, throwing 105.1 mph (169.1 km/h). He was also clocked by one radar gun at 106 mph (170.6 km/h) in a game against Pittsburgh, although there is some controversy as to the actual speed.
Cuban career
Chapman was part of the Cuban national teamCuba national baseball team
The Cuba national baseball team is the national team of Cuba. The team is made up of amateur players from the Cuban national baseball system, as there are no professional sports leagues in Cuba...
at the 2009 World Baseball Classic
2009 World Baseball Classic
The 2009 World Baseball Classic was an international baseball competition. It is the only international baseball tournament to feature a large number of players from the major leagues of North America and Asia. It began on March 5, 2009, and finished March 23, 2009.Japan emerged victorious for the...
. He played domestically for Holguín in the Cuban National Series
Cuban National Series
The Cuban National Series is the primary domestic amateur baseball competition in Cuba. Formed after the dissolution of the Cuban League in the wake of the Cuban Revolution, the Series is a part of the Cuban national baseball system.-League structure:...
.
Chapman's stats during his time in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
:
| Year | W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–06 | 3 | 5 | 4.33 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 54 | 48 | 33 | 26 | 5 | 54 | 56 | .240 |
| 2006–07 | 4 | 3 | 2.77 | 23 | 12 | 7 | 81 | 59 | 26 | 25 | 4 | 50 | 100 | .207 |
| 2007–08 | 6 | 7 | 3.89 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 74 | 55 | 36 | 32 | 3 | 37 | 79 | .200 |
| 2008–09 | 11 | 4 | 4.03 | 22 | 20 | 0 | 118 | 109 | 56 | 53 | 7 | 62 | 130 | .252 |
| TOTALS | 24 | 19 | 3.74 | 76 | 63 | 7 | 327 | 271 | 151 | 136 | 19 | 203 | 365 | .226 |
Defection
After a failed attempt to defectDefection
In politics, a defector is a person who gives up allegiance to one state or political entity in exchange for allegiance to another. More broadly, it involves abandoning a person, cause or doctrine to whom or to which one is bound by some tie, as of allegiance or duty.This term is also applied,...
in the spring of 2008, Chapman was brought to Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
to meet with Cuban President Raúl Castro
Raúl Castro
Raúl Modesto Castro Ruz is a Cuban politician and revolutionary who has been President of the Council of State of Cuba and the President of the Council of Ministers of Cuba since 2008; he previously exercised presidential powers in an acting capacity from 2006 to 2008...
who gave him a conditional reprieve, suspending him for the remainder of the National Series
Cuban National Series
The Cuban National Series is the primary domestic amateur baseball competition in Cuba. Formed after the dissolution of the Cuban League in the wake of the Cuban Revolution, the Series is a part of the Cuban national baseball system.-League structure:...
season and also keeping him off Cuba's national team for the Beijing Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
, but allowing him to return to the National Series and play in the World Baseball Classic
World Baseball Classic
The World Baseball Classic is an international baseball tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation and created by Major League Baseball , the Major League Baseball Players Association , and other professional baseball leagues and their players associations around the world...
.
A few years after Alexei Ramírez
Alexei Ramírez
Alexei Fernando Ramírez is a Major League Baseball second baseman and shortstop for the Chicago White Sox...
defected, Chapman successfully defected from Cuba while in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
where the Cuban national team was participating in the World Port Tournament
World Port Tournament
The World Port Tournament is an international baseball tournament held at the Neptunus Familiestadion in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The tournament has been held every other year in uneven-numbered years since , alternating with the Haarlem Baseball Week....
on July 1, 2009; Chapman walked out the front door of the team hotel and entered into an automobile driven by an acquaintance. Chapman eventually established residency in Andorra
Andorra
Andorra , officially the Principality of Andorra , also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra, , is a small landlocked country in southwestern Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. It is the sixth smallest nation in Europe having an area of...
and petitioned Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
to be granted free agent status.
Cincinnati Reds
On January 10, 2010, Chapman agreed to a long-term contractContract
A contract is an agreement entered into by two parties or more with the intention of creating a legal obligation, which may have elements in writing. Contracts can be made orally. The remedy for breach of contract can be "damages" or compensation of money. In equity, the remedy can be specific...
with the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
.
The Reds announced that they had signed Chapman to a six-year contract, worth $30.25 million according to MLB sources. The Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
reported that the bonus totals $16.25 million, paid annually over eleven years, with an additional bonus if he becomes eligible for salary arbitration in 2012 or 2013.
Chapman began the 2010 season assigned to the Triple-A Louisville Bats
Louisville Bats
The Louisville Bats, which play in Louisville, Kentucky, are the AAA minor league baseball affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. The team, formerly known as the Louisville RiverBats, plays in the International League...
, and made his professional debut with the Louisville Bats on Sunday, April 11, in Toledo against the Mud Hens
Toledo Mud Hens
The Toledo Mud Hens are a minor league baseball team located in Toledo, Ohio. The Mud Hens play in the International League, and are affiliated with the major league baseball team the Detroit Tigers, based approximately 50 miles to the north of Toledo. The current team is one of several...
, where he pitched 4.2 innings, giving up 1 unearned run, while striking out 9.
Chapman made his major league debut August 31, 2010, in the eighth inning against the Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
; his first pitch was clocked at 98 miles per hour (158 km/h) as a called strike (which was promptly tossed to the dugout by catcher Ryan Hanigan
Ryan Hanigan
Ryan M. Hanigan is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Cincinnati Reds.Hanigan made his debut at the end of the season as a September call-up. He debuted on September 9 as a pinch hitter, and recorded his first major-league hit in that at-bat...
, to be saved) and in the same inning was measured at up to 103 miles per hour (166 km/h). In nine pitches he retired the side. He recorded his first major league win on September 1 after pitching an inning of relief against the Brewers.
Playing style
According to MLB scoutsScout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
, Chapman's fastball has been clocked as high as 103 mph (166 km/h) (during the 2010 Minor League season), and in his second career appearance for the Cincinnati Reds Chapman threw a fastball clocked at 103.9 mph (167.2 km/h). In his first 19 career pitches, 10 hit triple digits and his fastball averaged 101.3 mph (163.0 km/h). He also throws a plus slider and an average changeup. Scouts worry about his control issues and lack of a solid third pitch, noting that these issues could affect his ability to be a major league starter. Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
writer Joe Posnanski
Joe Posnanski
Joe Posnanski is an American journalist and senior columnist for Sports Illustrated and former columnist for the The Kansas City Star. He writes extensively on his personal site, Joe Blogs and his SI blog Curiously Long Posts.-Journalism:Posnanski began his journalism career as a multi-use...
described Chapman thusly: "There is no violence at all in his motion; he’s like the anti-Bob Gibson
Bob Gibson
Robert "Bob" Gibson is a retired American professional baseball player. Nicknamed "Hoot" and "Gibby", he was a right-handed pitcher who played his entire 17-year Major League Baseball career with St. Louis Cardinals...
in that way. Just a slow beginning, a fluid motion, and BLAMMO the ball just fires out like the Batmobile rolling out of the cave."
On September 24, 2010, against the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
, Chapman was clocked at 105.1 mph (169.1 km/h), according to pitch f/x
Pitch f/x
PITCHf/x, created and maintained by Sportvision, is a system that tracks the trajectories of pitched baseballs. This system, which made its debut in the 2006 MLB playoffs, is installed in every MLB stadium.- Usage :...
, which is the fastest pitch ever recorded in Major League Baseball.
On April 18, 2011, Chapman threw a pitch to Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen
Andrew McCutchen
Andrew Stefan McCutchen is an American professional baseball outfielder with the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball.-Early years:...
that the scoreboard at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati clocked at a speed of 106 mph (171 km/h), although the box on Fox Sports Ohio’s broadcast listed it at 105 mph (169 km/h) and the pitch f/x system calculated a release speed of 102.4 mph (164.8 km/h). The disparity between these velocities has been widely discussed and questioned.