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Chapman receives standing ovation, tops 103 mph in Cubs debut

Jon Durr / Getty Images Sport / Getty

There was hardly any pressure, but Aroldis Chapman still put on a show.

The Chicago Cubs debuted their new closer to much fanfare at Wrigley Field on Wednesday as Chapman emerged from the bullpen and was greeted with a standing ovation at the Friendly Confines.

Eager to give his newest bullpen weapon some work, manager Joe Maddon opted to use Chapman in the ninth despite the Cubs leading the Chicago White Sox 8-1.

Chapman's first pitch lit up the radar gun at 101 mph, bringing about a raucous cheer from the crowd. He dominated the inning, splitting a pair of strikeouts with a groundball out, with his fastball topping out at 103 mph. The two sliders he threw were the only pitches of the 15 he threw that failed to hit triple digits.

"It's just entertaining to watch the stuff," Maddon said.

The Cubs acquired Chapman from the New York Yankees on Monday in exchange for Adam Warren and minor-league prospects Rashad Crawford, Billy McKinney, and Gleyber Torres.

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