New York Yankees: How can Aroldis Chapman become elite again?

Aroldis Chapman hasn’t been his former self during his stint with the New York Yankees. But there are some small tweaks in his game that could make a significant difference.

The New York Yankees possess arguably the best relief corps by far. And that’s without flame-thrower Aroldis Chapman at his best.

Following a mediocre season in 2017, the left-hander has an opportunity to return to his high standards once again.

Other closers surpassed Chapman in the “unhittable closer” category, as Kenley Jansen and Craig Kimberly both posted remarkable numbers throughout the past two seasons. Even Zach Britton, who sat out most of 2017 due to injury, was on a level that Chapman wasn’t.

New York’s primary closer blew four saves in 26 opportunities, which sparked some skepticism among fans. With David Robertson and Dellin Betances in the pen, former manager Joe Girardi liked his chances when he gave Chapman the hook in August.

But the southpaw worked his way back into his role by the postseason. Despite earning the loss in one bout, he was electric in October, whiffing 16 batters in eight innings.

Yet, Chapman struggled at points throughout the year. Even though his numbers from last season don’t look drastically different compared to one of his former All-Star seasons, his ERA spiked significantly.

He posted his lowest strikeout rate in his career in 2017, though it was still an impressive 12.3 strikeouts per nine innings. Nevertheless, when the Yankees signed him for more than $17 million a year, they expected the four-time All-Star to thrive as he did in the National League.

But he’s currently facing a bump in the road. The veteran is still just 29 years old and hasn’t lost any of his strength. That being said, he can make some major improvements to bring himself back into the conversation for the league’s best closer.

Here are just a few of them.