CREATED BY SPORTS BETTORS FOR SPORTS BETTORS
LET’S HEAR YOUR STORY
The Kansas City Royals headed into the summer hoping to bolster their bullpen. They ideally desired a back-end closer-caliber relief pitcher to improve their relief staff.
Their investigation led them to Aroldis Chapman, a former World Series champion and exceptional closer. He's also made headlines for high-profile off-field events.
According to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, the Royals and Chapman agreed on a one-year contract worth $3.75 million plus performance bonuses. After spending portions of seven seasons with the New York Yankees, Chapman became a free agent.
Chapman's time with the Yankees came to an end unexpectedly and unceremoniously, as he was left off the playoff roster. The Yankees released him after he skipped a necessary club exercise and stayed at home in Miami, allegedly dissatisfied with how his season played out, including a demotion from the closer job.
Chapman has thrown more pitches at 103 mph or higher than any other pitcher in the majors since 2008. His average four-seam fastball velocity exceeded 100 mph from 2014 through 2017, with an average of 101.6 mph in 2016 when he helped the Chicago Cubs win the World Series.
Chapman had a 4.46 ERA in 43 appearances (36 1/3 innings) last season, along with a 1.43 WHIP, a 1.54-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio, 10.7 strikeouts per 9 innings, and nine saves.
He had an average four-seam fastball velocity of 97.5 mph, but he had a sinker velocity of 100.2 mph (just 34 pitches thrown).
Chapman didn't give up a run in his first 12 appearances of 2022, but he gave up six runs in seven appearances (5 2/3 innings) in May before being placed on the disabled list with tendonitis in his left Achilles tendon.
Chapman returned to the Yankees in July after a rehab assignment. He was placed on the IL again in August for an infection caused by a tattoo.
If Chapman remains a game-ending possibility, it adds to the overall depth of a relief unit that includes right-handed possibilities. Taylor Clarke, Dylan Coleman, Jose Cuas, Carlos Hernandez, Collin Snider, Josh Staumont, and Barlow, as well as Amir Garrett, Richard Lovelady, and Anthony Misiewicz on the mound.
Garrett and Chapman were teammates in the Cincinnati Reds organization, where they both started their major league careers.
Jake Brentz, a left-handed pitcher, will continue his rehab following elbow surgery at the start of the season. Starting pitchers who do not make the rotation might possibly be converted to relievers by the Royals.
Daniel Weinman was crowned winner of the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event on Monday, taking home a record breaking $12.1 million in winnings. Weinman had to outlast the other 10,043 entrants to take home the prize and get his hands on his share of live poker’s largest ever prize pool – a staggering $93,399,900. As well as taking home the prize money, 35-year-old Weinman also got his hands on the WSOP Main Event bracelet. The huge bracelet contains 500 grams of 10-karat yellow gold, as well as 2,352 various precious gemstones.
Daniel Weinman won the World Series of Poker's main event world championship on Monday in Las Vegas, earning $12.1 million along the way. Playing in the tournament for a 16th year, Weinman was tops in a deep pool of 10,043 players vying for $93.39 million. His victory came after just 164 hands at the final table. "I was honestly on the fence about even coming back and playing this tournament," the 35-year-old Atlanta native told reporters afterward. Weinman's final table featured Jan-Peter Jachtmann, who landed in fourth place and took home $3 million, as well as Toby Lewis, who finished seventh and secured $1.42 million. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the main event's entry pool far outpaced the previous record of 8,773 set in 2006. "I've always kind of felt that poker was kind of going in a dying direction, but to see the numbers at the World Series this year has been incredible," Weinman said. "And to win this main event, it doesn't feel real. I mean, [there's] so much luck in a poker tournament. I thought I played very well." Steven Jones finished second, securing $6.5 million. And Adam Walton settled for third and a $4 million prize.
Your experience on this site will be improved by allowing cookies.
