Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Over the past two fantasy baseball seasons, RP Aroldis Chapman of the Cincinnati Reds has established himself as an elite closer. He has finished with 38 saves in back-to-back seasons and he constantly hits 100 MPH on the radar gun. The fireballer was naturally one of the top-three closers off the board in every format.
Unfortunately, Chapman was struck with a comebacker in the face in one of the team’s last spring games. He fractured a bone above his eye and came away with a lingering concussion as well. He was placed on the disabled list, and after weeks of rehabbing, he is almost ready to get back to work.
Chapman threw a 45-pitch bullpen session on Sunday and has begun throwing live batting practice this week. He is improving with each passing day. If everything continues to go as according to plan, the fireballer will begin rehab games next week.
As of right now, it is looking like Chapman will be back around the first week of May. His replacement, Jonathan Broxton, has earned four saves in Chapman’s absence. However, Broxton’s fantasy value is about to plummet when Chapman finally returns.
Chapman will be an elite fantasy close upon his return and the superstar will quickly make fantasy fan forget about the weeks that he spent on the shelf. Get ready fantasy fans, because Chapman is about to make his 2014 debut.
Adam McGill is the Senior Fantasy Sports Writer at Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @adammcgill83, like him on Facebook, or add him to you networks on Google here or here.
