Aroldis Chapman Could Remain in Reds Bullpen Next Season

by Andrew Johnson

Filed under: Reds

Reds manager Dusty Baker hinted that electrifying left-hander Aroldis Chapman could remain in the bullpen in 2011 in a radio appearance with Gary Williams and FanHouse's Steve Phillips on Sirius XM's Mad Dog Radio.

"We're not really sure if we're going to start him again -- which we are already strong there -- or do we need him in the bullpen? You know, the bullpen was new to him last year," Baker said. "That's why we kind of (inaudible) so to speak in that role, tried not to overpitch him, not too many innings.

"But I see him personally probably being somewhere in the back end of the bullpen. Because it's hard to find a guy that can get righties and lefties out equally and that gas he has and you haven't even seen his breaking ball and his changeup yet so his potential is unbelievable. So probably somewhere in the back end of the bullpen."

The Reds signed Chapman in January to a six-year, $30.25 million deal after he defected from Cuba in July 2009. He was sent to the minors out of spring training, and then converted to relief in June.

 

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