Born: 9-11-1986
6’4″ 190lbs
Signed 2010 $30.25m 5 year contract (Cuba)
| Year | Team | Age | G | W | L | IP | H | BB | K | ERA | WHIP |
| 2010 | Reds | 22 | 39 | 9 | 6 | 95.2 | 77 | 52 | 125 | 3.57 | 1.34 |
Chapman signed as a Free Agent out of Cuba after leaving the Cuban National Team
during a tournament in the Netherlands. Most thought that it would be one of the big
money teams like the Yankees, Red Sox or Mets to sign Chapman but instead the Reds
were able to put up the big contract and steal him away. Aroldis Chapman, after dazzling
onlookers during Spring Training in March with his triple digit fastball, has spent the rest
of 2010 honing his craft and harnessing that plus plus fastball. But that is exactly what
Chapman has begun to do. He’s had his share of struggles with command but with
125 K’s in 95+ innings we’re talking about a dominant lefty arm of the rare breed.
Let’s take a look at the peripherals and see what else we have.
| Year | Team | Age | G | IP | BB% | K% | BABIP | GB% | ERA | FIP |
| 2010 | Reds | 22 | 39 | 95.2 | 12.6% | 30.3% | 0.317 | 47% | 3.57 | 3.38 |
The K% is off the charts for a pitcher coming into the US as a 22 year old with no prior
major league experience. 30% of the hitters he’s faced have gone down on strikes. His
BB% obviously still needs work and harnessing his stuff as he matures similar to other
power lefties will be the biggest jump in Chapman’s development. It will take time, but
if it finally clicks in this could be a very special starter. His GB% is also at a rate that
is benefical to a power pitcher and should only get better with command.
Let’s go to Aaron Bentley for a look at some Chapman video and breakdown the flamethrowers mechanics:
The video provided with this article is from Chapman’s time in spring training but it
is important to note that all reports indicate that the Reds have not sought to change
Chapman’s mechanics in any substantial way.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyJHlDPun-g&feature=related[/youtube]
TEMPO – 65
I actually really like Chapman’s tempo. It grades down somewhat, however, because
of two main things. First, most of the time he speeds up his tempo as he starts to
drive toward the plate. Second, he only does it most of the time. Sometimes he
slows down there. The inconsistency bothers me. It doesn’t seem to mess with his
arm action, though, so it’s not really too much of a problem.
WEIGHT TRANSFER – 70
This part of Chapman’s delivery is gorgeous. Chapman leads with his hips, rotates
around beautifully, which creates his velocity, and gets his lead leg down perfectly
on time. I personally love this part of his delivery but it does provide for a lot of
moving parts. If Chapman is unable to repeat this section consistently, it could
easily lead to control problems.
ARM ACTION – 70
As with most of Chapman’s delivery, you can find slight problems here too. The
reason I’ve graded him so high even with the problems that exist is simply that the
problems are what makes him who he is. Yes, he lays his wrist back a bit too much
and yes, he has a lot of moving parts, but that is why he is able to throw so hard
without max effort. His arm gets up on time and he brings it through beautifully.
FOLLOW THROUGH – 70
I feel like I’m taking it easy on Chapman because it’s true that he is very raw and
there are mechanical problems. However, he does a lot of things well and you can
see that if he harnesses it all and can maintain consistency, there isn’t much that
can be done to stop him from dominating. Chapman leads with his glove nicely and
brings his pitching arm all the way through.
CONCLUSION
Chapman has all the tools to be a #1. If he cannot harness and become consistent
with all the things I have mentioned, he will either go the way of injury or could
become a real force in the bullpen. Chapman’s athletic ability makes me think he
can harness it all. I would like to see him in an organization that might bring him
along more slowly and had more of a track record of harnessing raw talents, but
Chapman has the talent to overcome it all.
OUR INSTINCT
Chapman has gotten the call to Cincinnati and Chapmania is taking hold. Chapman
was popping 103 mph and controlling his slider in his first action. He’s been moved
to the bullpen which has more to do with the Reds surprising rise to relevance in the
National League Central than it does with Chapman’s true future on the mound.
Chapman doesn’t have the same glaring red flags that Stephen Strasburg has and
his injury risk remains lower than Strasburg. So Chapman’s future will be a rotation
spot in 2011 and we think that he has the talent to be a #2 or #3 for the next couple
of years and eventually be a true ace for the Reds staff. His fastball is truly special
and he seems to have the head on his shoulders to not only learn but also to understand
that he needs to learn.
Thanks again to Aaron Bentley for the help on this.
