Eye On Baseball

The Reds expect to bring up left-hander Aroldis Chapman to pitch out of the bullpen sometime this season general manager Walt Jocketty told reporters on Friday. The Reds want to see how Chapman adjusts to pitching out of the bullpen in the next three weeks and then possibly call him up.

Chapman, a Cuban defector, started in spring training and all of this season until this week when he came out of the bullpen in relief of Edinson Volquez, who could also be back in Cincinnati in the next couple of weeks.

Jocketty said the team still considers Chapman's future to be that of a starter, but he could help the team more as a reliever this season. The Reds entered Friday's game against the Indians a half-game out of first place in the National League Central. The Reds, 40-33, haven't had a winning season since 2000 and have made the playoffs since 1995.

"We still see him as a starter, but we feel this season he can help us as a reliever," Jocketty said.

Chapman has dazzled with his fastball that has reached 103 mph for Triple-A Louisville, but has struggled with his control, especially of his secondary pitches. His fastball, however, is electric and in short spurts, he could dominate even big-league batters with that fastball.

There is still plenty of development left for Chapman who has shown signs of a very good curveball and slider, and has been working with former Red Mario Soto on a changeup. Chapman has yet to contain any of those pitches.

Chapman made his first relief appearance on Wednesday, allowing a run on two hits in two innings, while striking out two. For the season, Chapman has made 13 starts and appeared in 14 games, going 5-5 with a 4.12 ERA, striking out 79 and walking 41 in 67 2/3 innings.

Chapman may be used much like the Rays used David Price in 2008. Both are tall, lanky left-handers with a great fastball. Price was further in his development when he came up in 2008, but there are still similarities. The Reds would certainly like to have similar results, a short-term boost to the bullpen and a long-term boost to the rotation.


-- C. Trent Rosecrans

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