One had to imagine that, if Kansas City Royals pitcher Aroldis Chapman was going to suit up for the World Baseball Classic, it would have been for the Cuban National Team.
That is not the case. Instead, Chapman announced that he will be part of Great Britian’s entry, being named to their preliminary 50 man roster for the tournament. As Chapman’s ancestors are from Jamaica, which had been a British colony at the time, he is eligible to play for the team.
Kansas City Royals will have to wait for Aroldis Chapman
This gives the British squad another major league talent for their roster. Jazz Chisholm had previously stated his intention of joining the roster once they qualified, adding an exciting option to the lineup. Prospects Harry Ford and Tahnaj Thomas add intrigue to the roster, and there are several former major leaguers who helped bring Great Britain into the WBC for the first time.
However, none of those players have the same track record that Chapman does. A seven time All Star and the closer of the 2016 World Series winning Cubs, Chapman has a lifetime 2.48 ERA and a 1.069 WHiP, notching 315 saves while striking out 1045 batters and issuing 318 walks. He has been one of the more dominant closers in the game during most of his career, a force to be reckoned with in the ninth inning.
His time in the WBC may also be a positive for the Royals. While the British National Team is not expected to advance beyond the first round, the could be further along than other pitchers at the same point in the spring. It is also a chance for Chapman to potentially work through those command issues that plagued him last season in a different environment while giving the Royals a look at the pitcher they had signed. In this case, waiting is a positive.
Kansas City Royals pitcher Aroldis Chapman is set to join the British National Team for the World Baseball Classic. It is a great chance to get up to speed.