Posted on 08/31/2010 10:16:29 PM PDT by The Pack Knight
Left-hander Aroldis Chapman's major league debut Tuesday produced eye-popping numbers -- namely, a 103-mph fastball on the radar gun. Chapman, a Cuban defector, pitched one perfect inning for the Cincinnati Reds against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Chapman joined the team at Cincinnati's Great American Ballpark after being recalled from Class AAA Louisville, where he had hit 105 mph on Friday.
He entered the game in the eighth inning with the Reds up 8-3. Cincinnati eventually won 8-4 to increase their NL Central lead to seven games over the St. Louis Cardinals.
By bringing up Chapman, 22, on Tuesday, the Reds made him eligible for postseason play.
Chapman unleashed a 102-mph heater on his third pitch to leadoff man Jonathan Lucroy. He then struck Lucroy out on an 86 mph slider. Chapman finished the inning by getting groundouts from shortstop Craig Counsell -- on a 103 mph fastball -- and pinch hitter Carlos Gomez. Of his eight pitches, four were at least 100 mph.
He walked off the field to a standing ovation from the crowd of less than 20,000.
"There's not a whole lot of guys like him, if any," said Reds pitcher Sam LeCure, who was his teammate at Louisville. After a moment's pause, LeCure said, "There's none."
The next test for Chapman will be how he responds during the pressure of September.
"I think he can handle it," manager Dusty Baker told The Associated Press. "Because if you can handle pitching for food, you can certainly handle pitching here."
The Reds signed Chapman to a six-year, $30.25 million deal in January, expecting him to join the rotation at some point during the season. They moved him to the bullpen last month because their rotation is full.
Chapman hit 101 mph on scouts' radar guns in spring training. He didn't allow a hit in his last eight appearances out of the Louisville bullpen, dominating hitters who couldn't catch up with the fastball or handle the slider and changeup that go with it.
Also, it always feels good to see someone excelling after escaping from under Castro's boot.
I know it’s about a Reds pitcher, but baseball ping anyway.
I remember a few years ago seeing Jeter struck out by 3 100mph + fastballs. Never before was I happy to watch the Yankees.
105 mph, that is pretty impressive. I hope his arm holds up. Baseball can use a good story like this.
If anyone is wondering why the Reds called Chapman up the day before the rosters expand for September, thus starting his major league service clock, the reason is that if he’s on the roster on August 31st, he is eligible for the post-season and the Reds definitely feel they can make the playoffs now that they have a seven-game lead over the fast-fading Cardinals.
Chapman would have been eligible anyway. The Reds had two players on the DL at the eligibility deadline, who may be replaced for playoff eligibility purposes by any player in the organization (including players not on the 25 man roster at the deadline).
Looks like we’re gonna need a bigger bat
“Cuban missile on the launching pad” - Love it.
Yeah with 27 World Championships you must have been miserable for a long time, heh>
I know plenty of Yankee haters but never met anyone who disliked Jeter. The guy is nothing but a class act whether or not you care for the NYY, which I do not (not really a BB fan but live in the NY area)
I do not believe there has ever been a negative article written about him nor has there ever been a word of controversy in his 15 years with the club.
It is indeed impressive but it does nothing to guarantee success at that level of ball.
A major league hitter will in the course of a game be able to catch up with a pitch even if it is shot out of a cannon. It may take the 3rd or 4th time up but speed alone will not due it for this young man.
If he doesn’t learn to spot the ball and develop a couple of other pitches, you will be seeing some truly gargantuan homeruns being hit when a hickory bat tags a 105 mph fastball.
due=do
I’m not a Yankee fan, that was just the only time I enjoyed watching them, seeing Jeter get struck out by really quick fastballs.
Definitely. That’s a big reason why they moved him to the bullpen earlier this year down in the minors. He has a lot of work to do if they ever plan on using him as a starter in the bigs.
The Reds have to be happy to have that arm for the 7th or 8th inning in the post season, though.
Sorry to see that Jeter has really slowed down this year. But this year in particular with the Yankees having the best record in baseball it’s other players from the farm system pulling their weight. Cervelli (really pulling time for an aging and ailing Posada. Cano one of the best 2nd basemen around, Garnder (mostly speed and defense), than Pena, Joba and Hughes. ARod has been ailing and below his averages. I really can’t believe their record this year.
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