Cuban pitcher Chapman to the Major Leagues

By Ben Present

The bidding wars have begun for Aroldis Chapman, a recently defected Cuban pitcher who has been named among the best pitchers in the world without a Major League contract.

Chapman, 21, is a tall, lanky lefty who relies mostly on his fastball to retire batters. Scouts have clocked his power pitch in the triple digits.

During a trip to the Netherlands in July, Chapman severed all ties with his home country of Cuba, and became a Major League free agent in September.

Now, many are predicting Chapman to be the best Latino prospect to ever enter a Major League free agency.

Yet such expectations do not always yield the anticipated results.

“It is hard to live up to any hype that surrounds you, especially when dealing with professional sports,” said Rich Ortiz, a junior communications major. “Fans always have high expectations for new talents and anticipate them to be spectacular. It’s not always that easy.”

Matt Sanchez, a senior economics major, said he too has seen top Major League recruits struggle in their first years playing on baseball’s biggest stage.

“Plenty of top prospects have had their rude awakenings when they don’t play up to their hype,” said Sanchez. He added that Chapman’s status as the best prospect of the year will make it even harder for him to meet the expectations that many have already set for him.

But Chapman’s upside has led many experts to estimate his first contract will be anywhere between $40 and $60 million.

Sanchez compared Chapman to Tampa Bay’s David Price. Like Chapman, Price is a tall, left-handed pitcher with a hard fastball as his go-to pitch. Boasting upper-90s heat, Price made his debut with the Rays last year, helping the team to reach their first World Series in franchise history.

Teams interested in Chapman are hoping he will be able to bypass the minor leagues and help stamp ticket to a championship for one lucky franchise.

As of Nov. 1, Chapman was on his first American tour with agent Edwin Mejia. He has already met with the Yankees, Mets, and Red Sox. According to Boston Globe reporter Peter Abraham, Chapman “impressed the Red Sox.” The Oct. 29 report also named the Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers, and St. Louis Cardinals as interested teams yet to meet with the left-hander.

When he signs with a club, Chapman will join an impressive list of Cuban players already in the Majors, including Bronson Arroyo, Raul Ibañez, and Jorge Posada.

Added Sanchez, “You want to see athletes that are the best at what they do. [Baseball] is a way of life in Hispanic countries and they should be allowed to show off their talents.”

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