Aroldis Chapman: The rise and fall of a dominant closer

Every baseball fan can recall all of the hype surrounding a young Aroldis Chapman through the years of 2010-2012. Not only was he a great pitcher during that time (2.38 ERA combined), he seemed almost impossible to hit.

In 2010, the Cincinnati Reds signed Aroldis Chapman out of Cuba as a free agent. Prior to his signing, Chapman knew nothing about Major League Baseball. In fact, the hard-throwing lefty told reporters that he had never even watched a MLB game on television in Cuba. From 2005-09, Chapman pitched in the CNS league for the Sabuesos de Holguin (Holguín Hounds) as a starting pitcher where he compiled 365 strikeouts in 327 innings pitched. In those innings, Chapman allowed just 19 home runs.

Chapman signed a six-year-contract with the Reds worth $30.25 million. As a small market team, the Reds did have to understand the risk of paying a 20-year-old pitcher more than $30 million.

The Reds wanted to see Chapman as a relief pitcher rather than what he was used to in Cuba (being a starting pitcher). In the minor leagues, Chapman was moved to being a reliever and apparently the Reds liked what they saw as the pitcher was promoted to the Major Leagues after just 39 games at the Triple-A level.

As a rookie, Chapman came out of the bullpen 15 times. In 2010, in his 11th appearance in the big leagues, Chapman trotted out of the bullpen, this time to make history. In that game, 28-year-old Tony Gwynn Jr. stepped up to the plate to face a 22-year-old Chapman, and witnessed the fastest pitch recorded this century — 105.1 miles per hour. He went on to finish the season with a 2.03 ERA along 19 strikeouts in 13 innings and quickly became a fear around the league and was nicknamed “The Cuban Missile.” Two years later, Chapman was given the closer role in Cincinnati.

The dominance continued as a closing pitcher, these players hardly ever saw anyone that threw over 102 miles per hour consistently and, during the time, some baseball experts predicted that Chapman would go down as one of the greatest relief pitchers in baseball history. Not many people would have an argument for it.

After six seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, the flamethrower was traded to the New York Yankees during the 2015-16 offseason. Shortly after, Chapman agreed to a one-year contract worth just over $11 million to avoid arbitration.

Chapman had everything going for him, it seemed. However, on March 1, 2016, Chapman was suspended for 30 games by the MLB for violation of the leagues domestic violence policy. He did not pitch until May 9.

Two months later, on July 25, Chapman was traded to the Chicago Cubs for the top-ranked shortstop prospect in baseball, Gleyber Torres.

When the Cubs went to the postseason, Chapman played a big role. He made three saves in four opportunies in the National League Division Series and did the same in the Championship Series to secure the Cubs a spot in the 2016 World Series against the Cleveland Indians.

The Cubs were down 3-1 in the World Series, a game away from elimination. Chapman had to step up. In Game 5, Chapman pitched through the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings and allowed only one hit and led the Cubs to a win.

Game 6 would happen. Chapman shined again, pitching the seventh and eighth innings and allowing just one hit and a run and suddenly the series was tied again.

Game 7 was here. The Cubs led 6-3 in the eighth inning and Chapman was given the call to pitch. However, this time things did not go as smoothly. Chapman blew the save and allowed a two-run home run to Rajai Davis which tied the game. The Cubs would win the game in extra innings and Chapman was awarded the win and his first World Series ring.

After six years between three teams, Chapman hit the free agent market on November 10, 2016. Front offices were jumping. Everyone wanted this guy. He was the best closing pitcher in baseball. After a month, Chapman made a record-setting decision. The 28-year-old signed with the New York Yankees on a five-year deal that would guarantee him $86 million, the largest contract ever given to a relief pitcher at the time.

Since then, Chapman has remained a Yankee. During his second stint with the club, Chapman was diagnosed with inflammation in his rotator cuff on May 14, 2017, and did not pitch again until June 18. The velocity was still there and after his return, Chapman threw a 104 mph pitch, the fastest of the season. Finishing the year with a 3.22 ERA and a significant drop in his strikeout rate, this seemed like a down year for Chapman. However, in 2018 and 2019, Chapman proved that he was still the same dominant closer that Yankees fans knew and loved, working a career high in K/9 at 16.3 in 2018 and finishing both years with under a 2.5 earned run average.

In 2020, Chapman began to see regression. Due to the late start in the season and a positive COVID-19 test, the 32-year old would not see action until August 17. Less than a month later, Chapman was suspended for three games, this time for throwing a 101 mph fastball at the head of Tampa Bay Rays batter Mike Brosseau. Chapman only managed to pitch 11.2 innings that season, finishing with a 3.09 ERA and 22 strikeouts. Coincidentally, in Game 5 of the American League Division Series, Chapman faced Brosseau again. This time, Brosseau would launch a game-winning home run which would go on to end the Yankees season.

In 2021, Chapman recorded two milestones, collecting his 1,000th strikeout and 300th career save. He finished the season with 30 saves, a 3.36 ERA (a career-worst since being transitioned to a closing pitcher), a career worst 1.314 WHIP, and raised his BB/9 to 3.9 in 2019 to 6.1 in 2021.

The next season, Chapman had a disastrous year, finishing with a 4.46 ERA, the worst BB/9 and K/9 of his career along with a steady drop in velocity, struggling to throw his fastball over 97 mph and eventually lost the closer role to Clay Holmes after Yankees manager Aaron Boone began to lose trust in his veteran bullpen arm.

When the Yankees finished the season at 99-63, the team began to prepare for the playoffs. They had mandatory workouts scheduled. Chapman missed a workout, which caused Aaron Boone and the club to make the decision to leave Chapman off of the postseason roster.

On January 19, the 34-year-old signed a one-year deal with the Kansas City Royals worth $3.75 million, which certainly raised some question marks. The Royals were linked to rumors of bringing back veteran starting pitcher Zack Greinke, but could that signing now be off the table? Only paying Chapman just north of $3 million could be a low-risk, high-reward signing but that is for time to tell.

Chapman will put up a case for the Hall of Fame after his career is all said and done. However, he will definitely hope for a turnaround in the numbers before his cleats are hung up.