Aroldis Chapman hits DL with knee tendinitis after averaging lowest fastball velocity in six years

96 miles per hour is a fastball velocity that the vast, vast majority of professional baseball players would kill for. For Aroldis Chapman, it’s a warning sign.

The Yankees closer exited a game against the Marlins on Tuesday after just six pitches and one batter faced, reportedly calling for a trainer after experiencing left knee pain. The Yankees announced on Wednesday that he would be placed on the 10-day disabled list with left knee tendinitis.

The Yankees would go on to win 2-1 in extras to give Giancarlo Stanton a win in his first game at Miami since he was traded to New York during the offseason.

That left knee has bothered Chapman before, as he was forced to miss the All-Star Game due to tendinitis in the same knee. A flare-up wouldn’t be great news for the Yankees as they duke it out for a Wild Card spot, but the team’s impressive bullpen depth could help them weather the loss if Chapman is forced to miss any time.

Of particular concern might be the velocity of Chapman’s six pitches, which averaged 96 mph. That dips below anything Chapman has thrown in a game in the last decade, according to Brooks Baseball’s velocity data. That would include when he was dealing with tendinitis there earlier in the year.

After walking his line batter faced during the Yankees’ game on Thursday, Chapman still holds a 2.11 ERA and 31 saves, with a monstrous 84 strikeouts in 47 innings.

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