Aroldis Chapman reveals his new secret weapon

The New York Yankees have put together one of the most overpowered offenses Major League Baseball has seen in a while. Slugging clearly isn’t an issue and their star-studded lineup promises to be a big threat year in and year out. When it comes to pitching, however, things get kind of rocky. Inconsistency, lack of depth, and multiple injuries have prevented the Bronx Bombers from getting back to the big stage, and some people question Aroldis Chapman’s ability to close out important games, as he’s been victimized by his opponents in the postseason as of late.

Chapman is known for his power and abilty to top the 100 mph mark with ease. However, he’s struggled with control and has been a bit of a coin toss when it matters the most for Aaron Boone’s team.

That’s why he’s trying to evolve and become a more complete and versatile pitcher, as he recently told The Athletic that he’s added the splitter to his repertoire now that he’s getting older and his speed may not be there every day.

Aroldis Chapman To Add The Splitter To His Pitching Arsenal

“I’m not 25 anymore. I’m older, I’m not throwing 105 miles per hour every day. That’s the reality. Believe it or not, I used to throw a splitter back in Cuba when I was a starter. It was a pitch that I had used way back, then later on when I came to MLB and I started pitching, they basically told me to not use the splitter anymore. That being said, it has always been a pitch that I felt comfortable throwing — in fact I feel more comfortable throwing a splitter than a changeup,” Chapman said.

The Yankees added Corey Kluber to their rotation this year in hopes of finally putting an end to their World Series drought but they’ll need their bullpen to also rise to the occasion, so hopefully, Chapman will be back to his best after two subpar seasons.