Low & Outside: AL Notes
The rich getting richer?
The New York Yankees are very interested in Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman, according to SI.com. Chapman, widely believed to be the top lefthanded pitching prospect in the world, is 21, according to some reports, although reports during the World Baseball Classic listed his age at 26.It's predicted that Chapman, who boasts a 100-m.p.h. fastball, will get the largest signing bonus ever for a Cuban defector.
On Wednesday, Chapman simply walked out of his hotel room in Rotterdam, Netherlands, where the Cuban national team is playing in a four-team tournament, and was picked up in a car. He told cubaencuentro.com that he was in Europe but refused to say where.
Contact staff writer Jorge Castillo at 215-854-2928
According to the Web site, his defection had been planned for some time, and he hopes to sign soon with a major-league team. Unlike other high-profile Cuban pitching defectors such as Jose Contreras and Orlando Hernandez, Chapman likely would spend time in the minors before playing in the big leagues.
Branyan lets out frustration
Heading into Thursday night's game against the Yankees, Seattle first baseman Russell Branyan had struck out in his previous four at-bats. He struck out three more times against CC Sabathia before drawing a walk in the sixth inning.The next time up, he released some frustration in the form of a mammoth home run off the windows of the sports bar in straightaway center, above Monument Park at the new Yankee Stadium.
"Majestic," Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu said. "I think it's going to be hard to top that one in this ballpark."
Branyan, a journeyman who played briefly for the Phillies in 2007 and is known for his high strikeout rate, is having a breakout season, his first as a full-time starter. The home run was his 20th - just four shy of his career high - and he is batting .297.
Bay becomes a citizen
Boston leftfielder Jason Bay has an American wife and two American children, and he plays America's pastime for a living. But the Canadian wasn't an American citizen until Thursday.The 30-year-old from Trail, British Columbia, was among 360 people to become U.S. citizens in a naturalization ceremony at Faneuil Hall in Boston.
"I don't denounce being Canadian at any point," he said, "but I'm definitely proud to be an American."
Wakefield keeps knucklin'
At one point, Tim Wakefield's career appeared to be over. A shortstop in the Pirates' system, he was struggling at the plate and on the verge of being cut when he was given his fateful chance to get batters out with a knuckleball.Now 42, Wakefield has played for the Red Sox for 15 seasons. He made his 383d start for Boston last night - a team record. Going into the game, Wakefield had numbers (10-3, 4.18 ERA) that could earn him his first all-star selection.
Noteworthy
The Toronto Blue Jays bought the contract of outfielder David Dellucci from triple-A Las Vegas and designated utilityman Russ Adams for assignment. Dellucci, 35, played for the Phillies in 2006. . . . Boston righthander Daisuke Matsuzaka, who has a shoulder strain, will go to Florida on Monday to begin a strengthening program. He was 1-5 with an 8.23 ERA and an opponents' batting average of .378 before going on the disabled list June 21. . . . Outdoor baseball tentatively is set to return to Minneapolis on April 12, when the Minnesota Twins play their home opener against the Red Sox at Target Field. The date was in a draft schedule for next season that was revealed yesterday to the Associated Press. . . . The Yankees gave a $3 million bonus to 16-year-old Dominican catcher Gary Sanchez on Thursday.
Contact staff writer Jorge Castillo at 215-854-2928
This article contains information from the Associated Press.
