As one of the game’s greatest fastballs, Aroldis Chapman has six All-Star appearances. With Jordan Hicks, he holds the record for the highest recorded mph on his heater.
He was a Cuban defector who was possibly the best relief pitcher of the decade, holding the MLB record for the most straight relief appearances with a strikeout in MLB history (49).
Chapman’s Jamaican paternal grandpa settled in Cuba. English surnames are more common among Afro-Cubans with Jamaican ancestry.
Aroldis made his Serie Nacional debut with Holguin in 2005-2006, finishing 3-5 with a 4.33 ERA.
Took part for Cuba in the 2006 World Junior Championship, before going on to a 4-3 record, seven saves, and an impressive 2.77 ERA in the 2006-2007 Serie Nacional. In 81 1/3 innings, he notched 100 strikeouts while scattering just 59 hits.
However, he was only 6th in the league in walks while leading the league in strikeouts (50). One scoreless inning, two strikeouts, for the Gold Medalists at the Pan American Games in 2007.
In the 2007 Baseball World Cup, he was Cuba’s outstanding pitcher, striking out nine batters in seven innings in a win over South Korea and whiffing eleven in eight innings against Japan in the semifinal triumph.
As the best left-handed pitcher in the competition, he was selected to the All-Star squad. In the 2007-2008 Serie Nacional, Chapman’s success in international competitions was short-lived.
In spite of an opponent’s average of.200 and 79 strikeouts in 74 innings, his record was 6-7 and 3.89. He had the same number of strikeouts as Norberto Gonzalez, who was 7th in the league.
Maels Rodrguez had held the record for the fastest pitch in Cuban history until December 20, 2008, when Chapman shattered it by throwing a fastball at 102mph.
How Old Is Aroldis Chapman?
Aroldis Chapman is 34 years old. He was born on February 28, 1988.
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