Aroldis Chapman is traded to the Rangers.

The Texas Rangers acquired one of the most dominant closers of the last ten years via a trade with the Kansas City Royals earlier today. Aroldis Chapman who has saved 317 games during his big league career was sent to Arlington in exchange for LHP Cole Ragans and OF Roni Cabrera.

Many people wrote Chapman off at the end of last season, but the Cuban has regained the supersonic speed on his pitches after working with pitching guru Héctor Berrios in the offseason. The flamethrowers fastball has reached a staggering 104 mph on the radar gun on various occasions this season.

The hurler has appeared in 31 games in 2023 and has pitched 29.1 innings out of the bullpen with a 2.45 ERA. He has allowed just ten runs (eight earned) and posts a 53:20 strikeout-to-walk ratio for a good 2.65 K/BB that’s a little closer to his 3.25 in his major league career.

The native of Holguín, Cuba also sports a 16.26 S0/9 ratio on the campaign , so far this season he hasn’t allowed a home run, opponents are hitting just .158 against him and SLG a meager .188 versus the left-hander.

For his career aside from the saves he has fanned 1,098 batters in 669 ⅓ innings, has a WHIP of 1.07 and ERA of 2.47. He figures to be the new Texas closer and could augment his save total en route to a possible 400 for his career.

Chapman had this to say earlier this year when I asked him about reaching the milestone, “Well, that I don’t know. First of all I need the opportunities to be able to save and fulfill that goal. I would like it to come to pass. I’m going to focus on having a good season and, God willing in the coming years I’ll have a better chance of closing more games and reaching that goal. I think I still have several years to play at the highest level, so I’m looking forward to that opportunity.”

Aroldis ChapmanCuban Baseball DigestKansas City RoyalsMLBTexas Rangers
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