CINCINNATI (AP) - The Cincinnati Reds activated left-hander Aroldis Chapman from the 15-day disabled list before Saturday’s game against Colorado.
Chapman was active for the first time this season just one day after Jonathan Broxton blew his first save after five straight. Broxton allowed the Rockies to tie Friday’s game after the Reds had snapped a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the eighth. The Reds won in the bottom of the ninth on Joey Votto’s homer.
Chapman has recorded 38 saves each of the last two seasons for the Reds and manager Bryan Price indicated he wouldn’t waste any time using Chapman in a save situation.
“I’m not hesitant,” Price said. “He doesn’t need a soft landing.”
That was good news for Chapman, who opened the season on the disabled list after undergoing surgery to repair damage after being struck in the left eye and nose by a line drive during a spring training game on March 19.
“I hope I pitch tonight,” he said through assistant trainer and interpreter Tomas Veras. “I’m really happy to be back with the team.”
Chapman returns after making four rehab appearances. He didn’t finish with impressive numbers in his last two - allowing eight earned runs on seven hits with two walks and two strikes, along with hitting a batter and throwing a wild pitch in a total of one inning - but Price wasn’t concerned.
“He’s satisfied everything we wanted him to do,” the first-year manager said. “The ball is coming out of his hand easy. He had good velocity, a good slider and changeup. He’s proven that he’s not affected by the events in spring training. That’s probably something he’s done talking about.”
Righty Curtis Partch was optioned to Triple-A Louisville to make room on the roster for Chapman, who opened the season on the disabled list after undergoing surgery to repair damage after being struck in the left eye and nose by a line drive during a spring training game on March 19. He hadn’t allowed an earned run in 4 1-3 innings over three games with the Reds this season.
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