Minor Leagues Writer
Chicago Sports Online
Jay Chapman, a 19-year-old extreme groundball reliever from Sonora, TX, won the San Pedro de Macoris Green Sox Pitcher of the Year Award for 2044.
Jay Chapman
Chapman won the award after posting a 4-2 record with one save and an ERA of 2.22 for the Green Sox this past season. He threw 52.2 innings, mostly in relief, striking out 51 and walking 21.
Scouts are skeptical of his major league chances, calling him a “mop-up type who walks the thin line between big league employment and the minors with no standout skill.”
Despite that assessment, Chapman's skill ratings have bumped over the past year. His overall potential is now rated as 20/40 (up from 20/25 in June), and his skill ratings have also been moving in the right direction. His stuff is rated 7/8; pitch movement at 6/7; and control at 5/5.
“We’ll see,” said Frank H. Pabodie, Chicago’s director of scouting. “His velocity increased a bit in December, and that’s encouraging. If he keeps developing, maybe we’ll change our minds.”
Sox management seems split on whether to promote Chapman to Class A Grand Junction or give him another year in Short Season ball.
Chapman said he doesn’t care where they send him, just so they let him keep pitching.
“I like to play,” he said. “That’s really all I care about. Awards are nice but playing the games is what it’s really about, right?”