Kevin Chapman

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Houston Astros #17 prospect in 2014
  When the Royals suffered a series of catching injuries during spring training 2012, they found themselves desperate for a fill-in, which led them to explore the trade market. The Astros were more than happy to send veteran backstop Humberto Quintero to Kansas City to acquire Chapman and outfielder D'Andre Toney. In 2013, Chapman was one of the few bright spots in the worst bullpen in the big leagues. He quickly moved from being a situational lefty to pitching the eighth inning, but whether Chapman can keep that job will depend on his control. He straddles the line between effectively wild and just plain wild, with a career walk rate of 5.0 batters per nine innings in the minors. Chapman always will have below-average control and poor command, thanks to a effortful delivery in which he spins over a stiff front leg. But his 92-93 mph fastball gets in on lefties, setting up a plus, wipeout 80 mph slider. Chapman has the potential to pitch high-leverage innings in Houston in 2014, but Astros fans will always have reason to be nervous when he's on the mound.
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  Ranked Houston Astros #31 prospect in 2013
  Taking advantage of the Royals' need for catching when injuries struck in Kansas City, the Astros shipped Humberto Quintero and veteran fringe player Jason Bourgeois to Kansas City for Chapman and outfielder D'Andre Toney in March 2012. Chapman immediately became the Astros' top lefthanded reliever, pitching well at Double-A Corpus Christi in his first season in the organization. Chapman was drafted three times as an amateur before signing for $250,000 as a fourth-rounder in 2010, after he helped Florida make the first of three consecutive trips to the College World Series. Chapman had Tommy John surgery in 2008 and doesn't have a loose arm, but he's strong, maintains his stuff and has a feel for his breaking ball. He'll throw a hard, late-breaking power slider at times in the 82-83 mph range, and at other times throws a harder cutter in on righthanded hitters. He tends to get on the side of the pitch and get slurvier with it, and his reliance on the slider may make him a lefty specialist. His fastball has touched 95 mph in the past but generally sits in the 90-92 range with average life. He throws a changeup infrequently. Chapman could earn the big league lefty relief job with a strong spring training; otherwise he'll get his first Triple-A time in 2013.
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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #18 prospect in 2012
  When their high school-heavy 2007 and 2008 draft classes started to reach the upper minors, the Royals began emphasizing picking advanced college relievers who could help fill in some holes. Louis Coleman was the first of that group to make the big leagues and Chapman could be the second. He battled injuries through much of his college career at Florida, but after cleaning up his delivery and getting more direct to the plate, he dominated as a junior in 2010. He pitched himself into the fourth round of the draft and signed for $250,000. When Chapman is locating his 93-95 mph fastball, he can succeed using it almost exclusively. His fastball has late sink and tail, and he can cut it as well. He also throws a sweeping slider that can be an average pitch. Lefties get few good swings against him, and he has enough stuff to get righties out as well. Chapman still has control issues at times, partly because he isn't consistent about getting the ball out of his glove promptly. When he doesn't, his arm struggles to catch up to his body and he can't find the strike zone. After reaching Double-A last June, he'll head back there to open this season.