Cincinatti’s Cuban lefthander Aroldis Chapman impressed is his spring training debut last week.
Chapman, who signed to a $30-million contract if the offseason, struck out three Kansas City Royals over two scoreless innings.
Just as impressive as the 12 strikes, was the heat that Chapman brought. At least one pitch was clocked over 100 mph.
Chapman, a 6-foot-4 left-hander who defected from Cuba in 2009, said he felt better than he did during last week’s intrasquad game.
“I feel like I can be more aggressive in the zone and I don’t have to worry so much about throwing the ball inside,” Chapman told about a dozen reporters who showed up to watch him pitch. “I went out there with the same attitude — being responsible with my pitches.”
Since this is spring training, and nothing else is going on in baseball, expect the hype to get cranked up this week on Chapman. At least until he pitches again this weekend.
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