Aroldis Chapman | Larry Brown Sports

Reds, Cubs clear benches after Aroldis Chapman fastballs over the head (Video)

July 10, 2014 By Larry Brown 2 Comments

Benches cleared after Aroldis Chapman retired the side in the top of the 9th of Thursday’s Reds-Cubs game following some tension between the clubs.

Chapman struck out Justin Ruggiano to start the inning. Then he sailed a 101-mph fastball over the head of Nate Schierholtz on the first pitch of his at-bat. The second pitch was 100 mph and similarly buzzed the tower, causing several Cubs players to grow upset.

Chapman eventually struck out Schierholtz, walked John Baker, and got a groundout to end the inning. The benches cleared after the third out because the Cubs seemingly took offense to Chapman waving his glove at their dugout in a dismissive motion after the out:

Anthony Rizzo also said something to the Reds as he took the field for the bottom of the inning, sparking the benches to clear.

Warnings were issued, but nobody was thrown out of the game.

Filed Under: Baseball Tagged With: Aroldis Chapman, baseball fights, Cincinnati Reds, Nate Schierholtz

Aroldis Chapman hit 103 mph on radar gun against Washington Nationals

May 21, 2014 By Gordon Dixon 1 Comment

After missing the Cincinnati Reds’ first 35 games of the season due to being struck in the face by a line drive during spring training, Aroldis Chapman has returned to occupy his familiar ninth inning role.

Chapman is also once again lighting up radar guns, as we saw on Wednesday against the Washington Nationals. According to MLB.com, Chapman hit exactly 100 mph with four of his thirteen pitches. Then, there was the one you see above, which was clocked at a pretty ridiculous 103 mph.

The flame throwing left-hander followed that pitch with this one to end the game.

Welcome back, Aroldis Chapman. Radar guns across Major League Baseball have missed you.

Photo: Twitter/recordsANDradio

Filed Under: Baseball Tagged With: Aroldis Chapman

Aroldis Chapman shares Instagram picture of staples in his head

March 21, 2014 By Larry Brown Leave a Comment

Aroldis Chapman is on his way to recovering from the traumatic experience of being hit in the face by a line drive during a spring training game on Wednesday.

Chapman should be able to begin throwing in about two weeks, and he could begin playing in game conditions in 4-6 weeks, the Reds’ team doctor said Thursday.

Chapman had a metal plate inserted into his head to stabilize the fractures from being hit in the face. Apparently a ton of staples were needed as part of the procedures. The Cincinnati Reds closer shared a picture on Instagram of how it looked. It’s pretty grizzly, so we’ve shared it below.

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Filed Under: Baseball, Viral Greatness Tagged With: Aroldis Chapman

Aroldis Chapman had titanium plate inserted into head, will miss at least 4-6 weeks

March 20, 2014 By Larry Brown Leave a Comment

Aroldis Chapman might not be out too long despite his scary medical situation on Wednesday night.

The Cincinnati Reds closer was hit in the face by a line drive during a spring training game and was taken to the hospital. The team said Thursday that Chapman underwent surgery and had a titanium plate inserted into his head to stabilize a fracture.

He can begin working out in 10-14 days and can pitch in game conditions in 4-6 weeks.

The Reds’ team doctor says Chapman has a mild concussion but no other brain injuries, thankfully.

I know that inserting screws and plates into people during operations is standard medical procedure, but it’s still pretty gnarly to think about him walking around with a metal plate in his dome. At least he shouldn’t be out too long, which is great news.

Filed Under: Baseball Tagged With: Aroldis Chapman

Aroldis Chapman expected to make full recovery

March 20, 2014 By Steve DelVecchio Leave a Comment

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Aroldis Chapman fell victim to one of the most terrifying injuries in sports on Wednesday night, as he was struck in the head by a Salvador Perez line drive during a Cactus League game. Fortunately, the 26-year-old flamethrower is doing well and is expected to make a full recovery.

Reds manager Bryan Price told John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer that Chapman was up and joking around with catcher Brayan Pena on Thursday. Pena added that he felt a lot better after speaking to Chapman.

Team doctor Tim Kremcheck said that Chapman will need a metal plate inserted where he suffered some fractures above his left eye and nose. He suffered a very mild concussion and will undergo surgery, but the ball did not do any damage to Chapman’s actual eye. Kremcheck said that Chapman got lucky, all things considered, and that he should be able to resume exercising in six to eight weeks. He also said Chapman will “absolutely” pitch this season.

When you take into account the horrific sound the ball made when it struck Chapman, you realize how incredibly fortunate he is. For what it’s worth, Fay also noted that it would not have mattered in this instance if Chapman was wearing the protective hat now offered to pitchers. That’s not to say wearing them would be useless, but the ball caught him in the face.

We’re certainly relieved to hear that Chapman is expected back so soon.

Filed Under: Baseball Tagged With: Aroldis Chapman

Aroldis Chapman hit in face by Salvador Perez line drive (Video)

March 19, 2014 By Larry Brown 1 Comment

Cincinnati Reds flame thrower Aroldis Chapman was hit in the face by a Salvador Perez line drive during a spring training game on Wednesday night and was carted off the field.

Chapman is the hardest thrower in baseball, which means any ball coming off the bat would be returned with absurd velocity. The play occurred during the bottom of the sixth inning of a Cactus League game between the Reds and Royals.

This video shows Perez making contact. You can hear the terrible sound:

Here’s a look at the scene on the field after Chapman was hit – you can hear how silent the stadium was:

Reds reporter C. Trent Rosecrans says Chapman’s father ran onto the field after his son got hit.

Chapman was attended to by paramedics and carted off the field. The parties involved agreed to call the game after Chapman was hit.

Reds reliever JJ Hoover sent this tweet shortly after the game was called and it was enough to make anyone nervous:

Keep Chapman in your thoughts and Prayers. That was one of the worst I've ever seen. Praying he comes back quick!

— JJ Hoover (@JJ_Hoover) March 20, 2014

This sort of scenario is a pitcher’s worst nightmare, but it sounds like Chapman may come out of this in much better shape than anticipated:

Chapman suffered laceration above left eye, Price said. Never lost consciousness and was talking, moving #reds

— Mark Sheldon (@m_sheldon) March 20, 2014

The team says Chapman has fractures above his left eye and nose and will be kept overnight at the hospital for observation.

Filed Under: Baseball, Headlines Tagged With: Aroldis Chapman

Aroldis Chapman pokes fun at Sammy Sosa’s white face

March 19, 2014 By Steve DelVecchio Leave a Comment

Former MLB slugger Sammy Sosa has been looking ghastly for quite some time now. Sosa’s skin coloring change first became evident back in 2009, when speculation began to build that he was suffering from some sort of skin condition like the one Michael Jackson had. On Tuesday, Cincinnati Reds pitcher Aroldis Chapman had a little fun at Sosa’s expense.

“#chapmanswagg y no soy #sammy #sosa lol @hor danmvpbarber,” Chapman wrote on Instagram.

Those of you who speak Spanish know that what Chapman said translates to “I am not Sammy Sosa.”

Sosa claimed over three years ago that his skin had lightened because a facial cream he was using. He was still looking sickly when he made a public appearance last month, and some of the photos on his wife’s Instagram account still show a pretty pale looking Slammin’ Sammy.

We still have no idea what’s going on, but it certainly doesn’t look healthy.

H/T Big League Stew

Filed Under: Baseball, Viral Greatness Tagged With: Aroldis Chapman, Sammy Sosa