Since a drastic drop in velocity during spring training led to stud reliever Dellin Betances undergoing tests that revealed inflammation and an impingement in his right shoulder and landed him on the injured list to start the season, it was impossible to ignore the scoreboard readings for Aroldis Chapman on Opening Day.
The Yankees closer’s calling-card four-seam fastball that routinely pushes the speed guns into triple digits averaged 95.3 mph, according to Brooks Baseball. Of his 18 pitches, 12 of which were fastballs and the other six sliders, Chapman got only one swing and miss during the ninth inning of a 7-2 stroll past the awful Orioles at Yankee Stadium on Thursday.