Cincinnati Reds’ Aroldis Chapman looking to become starter – MLB News
As Spring Training is starting to gain momentum, the Cincinnati Reds’ pitcher Aroldis Chapman stated on Tuesday, February 21, that he is ready to throw as a starter. Hailing from Cuba, Chapman has had shoulder stiffness that has obstructed him from being
a regular starter for the team so far.
However, on Tuesday, he confidently asserted to pitch as starter as he said he has worked hard to do this.
"I am mentally and physically prepared to be a starter," Chapman said through interpreter Tomas Vera. "I feel I've worked real hard to do this. I am thinking like a starter and feel like I will be able to pitch all the innings they want me to pitch here
in Spring Training."
While he alone cannot take this decision, the team manager Dusty Baker stated that the club will stretch him out to see if the role will be assigned to him.
"We are going to stretch him out to see, and to see if there is time," Baker said. "If there is not time, or not quality, then you can always put the guy back in the bullpen."
To practically attain the goal he has set this time round, Chapman came in the camp weeks before the initiation of Spring Training. However, considering the name of elite starters available in the team, he has to surpass in quality to be one of the starters.
Thanks to the likes of Mat Latos, Johnny Cueto, Homer Bailey, Mike Leake and Bronson Arroyo in the team, the left-handed Cuban will be looking to go a long way to prove his utility and instrumentality in the Cincinnati Reds’ defence.
Chapman became part of the Cincinnati Reds back in 2010 when the club decided to sign him on a $30 million four-year contract. The role he was to get was that of the starter, but his shoulder injury created problems for him.
Whether he regains his fitness to pitch as a starter is a question unanswered at this point in time as the player has a 3.27 career ERA in the 69 games that he has played with 90 strike-outs to his credit.
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