Reds' Chapman concludes emotional season in tears
As he closed the book on the 2014 campaign, Cincinnati Reds closer Aroldis Chapman took a brief moment to look back at how far he's come this season.
#Reds Aroldis Chapman said he cried a little bit on his last pitch (102 mph fastball, by the way), knowing all he’d overcome this year
— ctrent (@ctrent) September 28, 2014
The hard-throwing left-hander suffered a career-threatening injury in March when a line drive hit him in the head during a Spring Training game. Chapman suffered fractures above his left eye and nose, in addition to a concussion.
In total, the 26-year-old missed 34 games over the 50 days it took to recover.
Upon his return, Chapman was his electric self. The flame thrower set a major-league record for strikeouts per nine innings (17.67), strikeouts-to-hits ratio (5.05-to-1) and highest percentage of batters struck out (52.4 percent), per MLB.com.
Chapman wrapped up his season with a 2.00 ERA and 36 saves in 54 innings, while striking out 106 batters.
"To see him laying down on the hospital bed and wondering, 'Am I going to pitch again? Am I going to continue to do what I do best?' and being able to witness his recovery and the way that he bounced back when a lot of people had doubt about how he was going to be … he never had any doubt," said catcher Brayan Pena.