TAMPA — When Yankees pitchers and catchers report to George M. Steinbrenner Field on Thursday and work out for the first time the following day, all eyes will be focused on Aroldis Chapman.
Second baseman Starlin Castro is new. So is outfielder Aaron Hicks. Neither has the star appeal Chapman arrives with thanks to a fastball that pushes speed guns into triple digits and has helped to fan 546 hitters in 319 innings.
Speed is a big part of Chapman’s persona, and it goes beyond the powerful left arm. He was ticketed for speeding at 93 mph in Ohio four years ago. And according to a person with knowledge of Chapman’s athletic ability, Reds speedster Billy Hamilton, who is considered among the fastest baseball players, has nothing on the new Yankees closer.
According to a person familiar with the situation, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound Chapman would beat the 6-foot, 160-pound Hamilton, who stole 57 bases in 114 games last season, in a 100-yard dash. The person said Chapman might be the best athlete in the majors.
And it’s more than flat-out speed. Word is other Reds players wouldn’t go into the weight room when Chapman was working out because they didn’t want to be embarrassed by his strength.
Despite a violent motion, Chapman has been on the disabled list only once due to arm trouble in parts of six big-league seasons. That was from May 16 to June 23 in 2011 due to an inflamed left shoulder. The other DL stint was in 2014, when he missed the first five weeks of the season due to facial injuries suffered when he was struck by a batted ball in spring training.
It’s likely Chapman, 28 on Feb. 28, will be sidelined at the beginning of the season due to a suspension for being involved in an alleged domestic abuse incident last fall. Chapman wasn’t arrested, but a suspension in the area of 15 games might be in line. Chapman was acquired from the Reds for four minor leaguers in late December and will earn $11.3 million this season.
So why is it that Chapman has avoided Tommy John or shoulder surgery when so many pitchers have zipper scars on their elbows or fleshy marks on their shoulders?
“This one turned out well because he is loose and long. Cuban pitchers love to throw and he has been used for one inning,’’ an NL pitching guru said. “Had he been a starter, he would have gotten hurt. One thing to watch is when he goes over 20 pitches in a game, his stuff [declines]. All he wants to do is throw hard, and he is in the perfect role.’’
The addition of Chapman to a bullpen that already housed Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances led many to believe the Yankees have constructed the perfect late-game pen. With a rotation that has questions in all five spots, Chapman, Miller and Betances need to be as good as advertised for the Yankees to contend for the AL East title.