Just a month into the 2017 MLB Season, New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman has been lost via injury to the DL.
Aroldis Chapman is a well-respected closer acquired by the New York Yankees back in the 2016 season, then traded to the Cubs, then, extremely predictably, back in pinstripes for the 2017 season via free agency.
Not even a full month into the regular season, Chapman is now removed from the line-up due to shoulder complications. The official diagnosis is rotator-cuff inflammation.
Brian Cashman said that the plan is to have Aroldis Chapman rest for a minimum of two weeks. Yanks probably looking at a month without him.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) May 14, 2017
Chapman has been unable to perform up to his usual closing abilities and it’s now apparent that his shoulder has been the reason for his pitching distress.
In his last three appearances, Chapman’s ERA went from a 0.79 ERA to a 3.55 ERA — not a huge jump considering early season times, but an alarming jump for a guy of his stature. Currently, Chapman has been placed on a 10-day disabled list and has been advised that he shouldn’t be throwing for a minimum of 14 days.
This DL placement doesn’t come as a shock to any of the Yankees staff given Chapman’s recent pitching performances. With headlines with only five days apart from each other reading, “Chapman Blows Three-Run Game,” “Chapman Struggles With Non-Save Situation,” it’s no secret that placing Chapman on the DL in hopes that they can pinpoint the issue with his shoulder was much needed.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that Chapman is expected to miss more than just the 10-day title for the DL list. Losing Chapman in the bullpen will be a test to see if the other Yankees relievers can rise to the occasion and fill in the gap that Chapman is leaving.
Chapman joins other Yankee players such as Greg Bird (ankle) and Tyler Austin (ankle), two fairly new players to the Yankees line-up.
Who knows how long Chapman will be out of the line-up for. The last time Chapman was placed on the DL he was expected to come back much sooner than he did. Only time will tell to see if Chapman’s shoulder will hold up for the 2017 season.
The Yankees will be regretting spending $86 million on a closer that they’re stuck with for four more years that isn’t performing up to his intended expectations.
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