
Aroldis Chapman pitched two scoreless innings during a two-game rehab stint with the 2014 Dayton Dragons. (Photo courtesy of WDTN-TV)
The Cincinnati Reds traded hard-throwing closer Aroldis Chapman to the New York Yankees for four minor-leaguers Monday, less than two weeks after sending infielder Todd Frazier to the Chicago White Sox as part of a three-team transaction.
Both played for the Dayton Dragons, although Chapman did so on a rehab assignment. The fireballer wowed onlookers during his two inning-long Midwest League appearances in 2014. His fastball reached triple digits four times during a perfect inning in Dayton, and reached a high of 96 mph during a scoreless inning at Lake County a day later.
Chapman struck out three and walked one batter in those two innings.
None of the four minor-leaguers traded by the Yankees for Chapman played in the Midwest League.
Frazier played 36 games with the Dragons in 2007-08, batting .321 with 9 HR and 25 RBI. He was traded as part of a seven-player transaction that also included two other ex-Midwest Leaguers: outfielder Scott Schebler, who batted .260 with 6 HR, 67 RBI and 17 SB in 137 games with the 2012 Great Lakes Loons, and Double-A second baseman/outfielder Brandon Dixon, who batted .185 with 1 HR and 17 RBI in 59 games with the 2013 Loons. The Los Angeles Dodgers sent both of them to the Reds as part of the three-team trade.