04/19/24
July 02, 2009
Cuban Lefthander Aroldis Chapman Defects: Aroldis Chapman, perhaps the "best left-handed pitching prospect in the world" has left the Cuban National Team hotel in the Netherlands."I walked out easily, right through the hotel door, and I hopped into a car and left," Chapman told cubaencuentro.com. "It was easy. Now the plan is to sign with a major league team." Chapman is 21 years old and has a fastball that has been clocked at 102 mph.
posted by Ufez Jones to baseball at 01:25 PM - 3 comments
All that's left to be determined is how much the Yankees are going to pay him.
posted by rcade at 02:35 PM on July 02, 2009
I remember more excitement about Jose Contreras when he defected, but he was almost 30. Getting a Cuban prospect of this caliber when he's just 21 is a much bigger deal.
As a Rangers fan, I'm just hoping Tom Hicks can afford him.
posted by rcade at 12:24 PM on July 03, 2009
Perhaps he was tired of the four-hour-long pep talks from Fidel.