Aroldis Chapman: Where To Start?

by John Sickels on Jan 14, 2026 12:45 PM EST Comment 37 comments

If you were running the Cincinnati Reds organization, where would you have Aroldis Chapman begin his professional career?

Poll

Where would you have Chapman begin his career?

Cincinnati Reds starting rotation

65 votes

Cincinnati Reds bullpen

22 votes

Triple-A Louisville

164 votes

Double-A Carolina

787 votes

High-A Lynchburg

504 votes

Low-A Dayton

152 votes

Rookie-level Billings

29 votes

Rookie-level AZL Reds

41 votes

1764 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 37 comments

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Read More: 2010 mlb hot stove, Aroldis Chapman (P - CIN), Cincinnati Reds

Comments

AA

I think that he could glide by on the fastball in High A with very good results and not have to learn to use his other stuff. AAA seems like they would be wanting to rush him a little bit and to be honest, there are 5 other guys who deserve a spot in the AAA rotation (maybe not more than him based on prospect ranking/ability) too. Plus, I do think it could benefit him to be able to watch Mike Leake pitch, who will be starting in AA this year. Seeing a guy who doesn’t have the same overpowering stuff as him, but get hitters out could potentially help him understand the power of location and mixing it up quicker. For the same type of reason its why I hope that Juan Francisco see’s Yonder Alonso on first base 200 times this year in front of him and starts to ask ‘why is he over there every time I step to the plate’ and actually looks at what he does.

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by dougdirt on Jan 14, 2026 1:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

i'd start him in lynchburg.

if he blows people away, move him up. seems better to be conservative than not. easier to move up than down.

by larry on Jan 14, 2026 1:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I guess my question would be

What can a guy learn when his results show he is dominating if he is only using his fastball to dominate?

Now I am not saying that he can or will do that, but in the past I have seen other guys with great fastballs do so and it really set back their development because they didn’t believe that they actually needed better secondary stuff because it being iffy was good enough now because guys couldn’t handle the fastball at all and it threw them way off on something offspeed because they had to start way early thinking about the fastball. Things like that happen a lot more often in A ball than in AA. Its just something that worries me with him.

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by dougdirt on Jan 14, 2026 1:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

so he plays three games in A+ and dominates.

he gets his work in and you, as a team, learn where he stands in comparison to his competition. not sure how that sets back his development.

by larry on Jan 14, 2026 1:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This is clearly the most responsible choice.

You want Chapman to hit the ground running. If he’s as good as we think he is, he’ll only spend a month at A+. If you start him in AA and he struggles, what’s your next move?

by PissedMick on Jan 14, 2026 3:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

by BrosbeforeShaincoes on Jan 14, 2026 4:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

+1 to Larry

I just don’t see the downside in starting him a little lower.

by aap212 on Jan 15, 2026 9:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think...

I’d much rather see a guy start off by winning and not being overwhelmed or discouraged by poor results. Not saying he’d for sure be bad in AA, but I would definitely take the conservative route at the beginning.

by BobbyS on Jan 14, 2026 2:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

I think starting him in AA is the best solution. If he starts poorly, it allows him to adapt. It also allows him to work on his pitches against better talent. I believe he could easily dominate A and A+ with his fastball alone, so starting him in AA provides a challenge and if he succeeds, then he gets a shot sometime this year if not a cup of coffee in September.

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by JT12340 on Jan 14, 2026 5:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

this made me laugh

Juan Francisco see’s Yonder Alonso on first base 200 times this year in front of him and starts to ask ‘why is he over there every time I step to the plate’ and actually looks at what he does.

He must really like it over there, I guess.

by nivarsity on Jan 14, 2026 1:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I certainly hope Yonder gets beyond first base on some of those 200 ABs ;)

by Cormican on Jan 14, 2026 1:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think that he could glide by on the fastball in High A with very good results and not have to learn to use his other stuff.

This is a fair point, and certainly the best argument for starting him in Double-A.

That said, I side with those who say that the goal should be to have him hit the ground running (especially with the cultural adjustment, as John points out). I’d leave it up to the coaches to ensure that he’s mixing his stuff well and trying to get guys out with his offspeed pitches in order to guard against your fear. In the end, I’d rather err on the side of him over-utilizing his fastball for a month and a half than struggling in Double-A and having things snowball.

by PhillyFriar on Jan 14, 2026 5:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

For reference

21 year old Livan Hernandez began in AA.

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by RoyalsRetro on Jan 14, 2026 1:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Unfortunately...

Because we all know McDonald’s is at its best in Portland.

by aap212 on Jan 15, 2026 9:35 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I said AA

Gives him a challenge without getting him in too deep. I’d let him pitch all year in AA or maybe get a late AAA callup so he can get settled and get a full year under his belt of 100+ IP. Plan to have him in Cincy in early 2011.

by nivarsity on Jan 14, 2026 1:26 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I said AA, but mostly for the selfish reason that I live near Zebulon and can get to see him and Leake a bunch if they both start there.

by Cormican on Jan 14, 2026 1:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

A

Personally I voted for High A and I would leave him there for at least 10 starts even if he’s blowign the league away with his fastball. Why? Because he is going to face a very difficult CULTURAL adjustment, and it seems to me that keeping some of the baseball pressure off while he gets used to the culture is a good idea. I’d obviously make sure there is a good interpreter with him at all times.

by John Sickels on Jan 14, 2026 2:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

not that familiar with the reds system

but what is their concentration of spanish-speaking players at each of those levels, particularly among pitchers. also, the coaching staffs - i know lynchburg’s pitching coach speaks spanish. cultural integration is obviously important. if the reds are less worried about him being at a particular level of competition, perhaps they should consider who he is buddying around with in spring training.

by larry on Jan 14, 2026 2:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t believe any of the AA coaches are Spanish Speaking. Players change year to year across levels, but it’s hard to find a minor league club without a few Spanish speaking players.

by Cormican on Jan 14, 2026 2:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm surprised teams don't require at least one member of every coaching staff be fluent in Spanish

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by RoyalsRetro on Jan 14, 2026 3:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Seriously

Especially after watching Sugar, the thought seems awful.

by aap212 on Jan 15, 2026 9:35 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I said Low A and I'd make him keep his uBB+HBP below 11% at each level before he can move up.

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by lailaihei on Jan 14, 2026 2:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

based on competition

He’s played on the big stage already so I’d probably start him at AA and go from there.

by yoda1 on Jan 14, 2026 2:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

starting him too easy

could be detrimental if he falters. It would destroy his confidence.

by yoda1 on Jan 14, 2026 2:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Confidence is pretty cheap

When you throw a 100 MPH Fastball.

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by SeanDubbs on Jan 14, 2026 3:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I said High A

I’d try to make the transition to the States and the US game as easy as possible for him. This kid is making a huge change in his life.
I’d give him one full year in the minors with 5-6 starts at High A, 12-13 starts at AA, then the rest at AAA. I wouldn’t give him a September callup either. Let his arm rest after the minor league season. I’d also consider not moving him up to AAA. Depends on how his control progresses.

I think he can dominate the High A level but he needs that success. It can only help him moving forward. I wouldn’t give him too much time in High A if he’s doing well. I wouldn’t want him to feel like he can get by with just a big time fastball. Don’t let him get into a groove. He needs to work on things.

by UncleBuck44 on Jan 14, 2026 3:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

As far away from Dusty Baker as humanly possible

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by thejd44 on Jan 14, 2026 3:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

haha, beat me to it

by philiafan14364 on Jan 14, 2026 5:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

https://www.minorleagueball.com/2008/9/14/613909/revisiting-volquez-s-pitch

this makes me :(

alskor the prophet….

Here’s my question: how has his arm been treated so far? Are there any general tendencies about how the Cuban programs treat young arms?

by FastBennyF on Jan 14, 2026 10:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

High A for me also

Probably best not to challenge him too much because he will be making cultural adjustments and many other changes. If he can dominate on the baseball field early on, would be great for him.

I am also concerned about his control. He can get by with a great fastball in A ball, but thats assuming he has control over it. AA will force him to work more on his breaking pitches and change to become a starter. If he has poor fastball control though, in AA, he will be lost with his repetoire.

AA jump can be made if he is dominating after 5-10 starts.

by tdot mariner fan on Jan 14, 2026 4:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

maybe its just me

i don’t get the whole culturally adjusting thing….

this guy knew he was about to get $20-30 million… i think he could’ve afforded a laptop and a copy of rosetta stone.

same for all of the guys coming over here without being able to speak the language…. take a class, do something… and anyway, how many spanish-speakers are on an average ballclub? at least one or five.

I’d start him at AA. its not like he’s a 18-19 year old kid.

by daveh33 on Jan 14, 2026 5:26 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

they do take english classes.

not sure rosetta stone has a class on “american culture in practice”.

by larry on Jan 14, 2026 6:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

let's put you in a 3rd world and see how you "culturally adjust"

Not mention that he had a government that was constantly feeding him lies and literally owns everything.

by Dave from Louisville on Jan 14, 2026 6:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

cuba

The difference between Cuban culture after 50 years of communist isolation and American culture is even greater than the seperation between the US and Venezuela, or the US and the Dominican. It takes those kids time to adjust, the shock is even greater for the Cubans.

by John Sickels on Jan 14, 2026 7:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs