MLB: Ranking the Top 10 Closers in Baseball Right Now
By zacklosel
# 2 – Aroldis Chapman – Cincinnati Reds
Age: 25
Career Stats: 2.33 ERA / 212 K’s / 39 Saves / 1.01 WHIP / 135 IP.
2012 Stats: 1.51 ERA / 122 K’s / 38 Saves / 0.81 WHIP / 71.2 IP.
Career K/9: 14.13.
Career K/BB: 3.7.
Sep 4, 2012; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (54) pitches during the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Great American Ball Park. The Reds defeated the Phillies 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports
In his first season as Cincinnati’s closer in 2012, Chapman did nothing but impress, recording thirty eight saves in 71.2 innings of work, whiffing batters an astounding one hundred twenty two times. He currently holds the record for the fastest ball ever thrown in Major League history, at 105.1 miles per hour. His average fastball speed has since declined from one hundred one to around ninety eight miles per hour from 2010-2012, but even so, he still has one of the most effective arms in the game. His slider is also mighty effective.
The Reds almost committed a tremendous disservice to the twenty five year old left handed righty specialist, known as the “Cuban missile Crisis,” when the club tentatively went along with plans to convert their recently realized phenom of a closer, into a starter for the 2013 season during Spring Training. Recently, however, plans have changed, and, as requested by Chapman himself, he will remain the club’s go to guy in the ninth.
At twenty five, it seems as though nothing can slow this dominating closer down, and even with only one year of closing under his belt, he should remain one of the best closers in baseball for years to come. Especially if he stays in the weaker (excluding the St. Louis Cardinals) National League Central division.
Because of his lone year of closing experience, he is second only to…