11 years later, the memory is still disturbing.
The Cactus League game between the Kansas City Royals and the Cincinnati Reds makes little sense. But anyone who sees this line will never forget the horror sight from above Aroldis Chapman in Salvador Perez.
“March 20, 2014. Sixth inning, base loading. I believe it's a 2-1 count.” Reds Assiston Athletic trainer Tomas Vera said his details were shocking the details as if they happened yesterday.
“I feel intimate,” said Chapman's catcher Brayan Peña that night. “You can't even imagine it.”
Chapman, 26, was selected as the All-Star Assistant twice. He wanted to throw a slider at Perez, the All-Star catcher for his 24th birthday. Penia called for fastball. Chapman shocked him. Penia once again called for the fastball. Chapman threw at 99 mph. and then. . .
“I've witnessed so shocking that I can't even watch the video anymore,” Peña said.
Vera rushed to the mound to join Chapman and activates the emergency action plan with the Royals coach. Chapman was taken out of the wild by stretchers and transported to the nearby emergency room in Arizona. The administrators and referees decided to cancel the rest of the game.
Ramón Hernández, a former Reds receiver, had spring training with the Royals to take Venezuelan compatriot Perez to the hospital. A group of Reds players also went to Chapman. Many Cubans from other teams in Arizona also wanted to meet their fellow countrymen. Chapman's father, Juan Alberto Chapman Bennett, also attended the meeting.
“When I saw Chappy in the room, I started crying,” Perez said.
Chapman also shed tears when his fellow Cuban compatriot Peña put his hands on his shoulder and spoke to him in Spanish to check if the pitcher is alert. Perez apologized to Chapman, explaining that he never intended to hit him. But he recalled Chapman rest assured and said, “Everything will be fine.”
However, at that moment, Chapman's prognosis was far from clear. The facility is surprisingly “not prepared for this trauma,” said Vera. Team Doctor, Vincent Key of Royal and Reds Timothy Kremchek, who was responsible for Chapman’s transfer to Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center in Phoenix. The next day, the pitcher underwent a 2 1/2 hour procedure in which a titanium plate was inserted into the bone above the left eyebrow.
Chapman also suffered a mild concussion and recalled the three-day hospital where Perez visited him every day. They used to know each other, but were mainly opponents.
“At that moment, we got closer,” Chapman said through an interpretation with Carlos Villaria-Benítez of the Boston Red Sox. “He basically became a family.”
After the New York Yankees eliminated the Royals in last year’s division series, Perez spent two more days in Kansas City before flying to his offseason home in Miami with his family.
On his first day, one Sunday, his phone rang.
“Where are you?” Chapman asked.
“Chappy, what do you mean?” Perez replied. “I just finished the race 48 hours ago. I want to relax.”
Chapman had nothing.
“No, no, no, no,” Perez said. “You have 30 minutes? Come to my house. Let's start working now.”
Chapman and Perez live in Miami and are close to each other. They use the same strength and conditioning coach Nestor Moreno. Chapman correctly felt Perez was about to go on vacation. He told Perez to start exercising immediately and once you return, recovery will not be that difficult.
Chapman frowned at Perez's thoughts and even took time out.
“You will have enough time to go on vacation when you retire,” he told Perez.
Chapman has been an eight-time All-Star, but his career has not been without lower moments. Off the court, he was suspended for 30 games for his role in a domestic violence incident in 2016. On site. In the case of the New York Yankees, he allowed Houston's Jose Altuve and Tampa Bay's Mike Brosseau's home run decisions to playoffs – the latter threw a 100-inch late Brosseau in the first few weeks before Brosseau.
Now, Chapman enjoys his best season. He was not allowed to hit the last 46 batsmen he faced. His fastball averaged 98.9 mph, putting him in the top 2% of the league. In 54 games, his era was 1.00. His opponent's batting average is .115. He became the eighth All-Star team in July, and earlier this week the Red Sox rewarded him with a one-year, $13.3 million extension.
“The way he was ready, people couldn't see it,” Perez said. “I had a chance to see it every day during the offseason.”
Perez said he first learned the importance of a strong work ethic from former Royals teammate Alex Gordon, who will step out of the weight room of spring training as Perez walks in, trying to be the first to enter the complex.
Chapman became a more lasting example, inspiring nine-time All-Star Perez to become one of the most durable catchers of his time. Only Seattle's Cal Raleigh has played more games since 2023 than Perez has played on the Catcher. Perez, 35, is 6 1/2 years older than Raleigh, and is only four games behind.
“I learned something from Chapman,” Perez said. “When you start working very hard on 24-25, the day is not ready. So you can sell it at this age of 35-36-37.
“When I arrived in the majors 21-22, I could warm up in 10 seconds. I could put on my gear and grab it. But I learned from Chappy that everything started in the offseason. How much work do you put into? How much did you sacrifice? What kind of player do you want to be?”
Chapman answered these questions in a loud way. In 16 seasons, he has only had three arm troubles with three injured rosters. None of them are very long. The last one is in 2021 for inflammation in the left elbow.
His other three ILs have been having leg problems since Perez hit the line drive. Chapman even recovered quickly from his facial surgery in late March 2014, rejoined the Reds on May 10, and then pitched well enough for the next two months to make the All-Star All-Star team.
“I always tell[Perez]that if we want to stay in this business and stay for many years, we have to work hard,” Chapman said. “Maybe when we are 25, we do things to a smaller extent because we are youthful and talented. But once you reach a certain age, you have to work hard twice.”
Perez also took these words in mind, while also absorbing Gordon's early lessons. Ryan O'Hearn of San Diego Padres, a member of the Royals from 2018 to 22, recalls trying to be the first to participate in the spring training workout, just as Perez did in his early years on the team. O'Hern couldn't do it. Perez and the young catcher he is coaching, Freddy Fermin, are already in the building.
Royals manager Matt Quatraro laughed at a statement sent to him after the trade deadline when the royal family sent his backup Fermin to San Diego Padres.
“You have protected me enough protection,” Perez announced. “Now I'm capturing every game for the rest of the year.”
Quatraro reminded Perez that this was not 2015, when he won 155 games in the Royals World Series title, including the playoffs.
“We need you beat Quatraro said.
Perez later said he was just kidding and he would play the first base DH anywhere the manager wanted. No matter his position, his enthusiasm remains limitless.
The Royals traded in part because after 15 seasons, they still believe in Perez. Yes, Perez's OPS+ was 22% higher in the league average after last season. But his 24 home runs ranked second, only Vinnie Pasquantino's 29.
This is the last guaranteed season for Perez's four-year $82 million contract. Royals hold $13.5 million in option and their decision to accept it may be easy. They might even consider adding another option year, which gives Perez time to help their highest capture prospects, Carter Jensen adapting to the Grand Slam.
Perez joked that he felt he was 25 years old. He eats carefully and is diligent. Before the game, he said, “I will never miss the weight room.” After the game, he will soak in the cold bath, move to the hot tub, then finish in the cold bath before warming up the body again.
“One of my goals is to be until I was 40,” Perez said. “I want to be like Yadi Molina. He was the guy I followed when I was a kid. He played football until he was 39.”
Meanwhile, Chapman will pitch in the 38th season next season. Unlike Perez, who only plays for the Royals and wants to play for the Royals, the Relief has rebounded. The Red Sox is his seventh team and is fifth in the past four seasons.
One of Chapman's stops at Perez's urging is Kansas City, in 2023. Chapman signed a one-year, $3.5 million free agent contract with the Royals, with Perez as the catcher in 21 innings with 1.71 ERA as ERA in 21 innings, and then traded in Texas at Lefty Cole Ragans in Texas.
Along with the Rangers, Chapman became the World Series champion for the second time. However, he talked almost wonderfully about the time of the royal family and Perez, saying it was special and part of God’s plan.
Few people can imagine their story as this way, when a batsman lined the ball from the pitcher's face would result in a lasting bond between two players.
“It’s crazy to see such a bad moment, such a horrible event that led to this relationship,” Peña said. “It’s so good to see how much they work together, how much they love and appreciate each other.”
Not long ago, Chapman was in the car with someone and chatted with Perez via FaceTime. Instead of trying to have two conversations at a time, he told the man in the car, and he explained that he was talking to him Panaor really a good friend.
Perez simulates this description.
“I’m not yours Pana,” he fired back. “I am your brother. ”
Maria Torres of Track and Field reported on the story.
(Photo by Aroldis Chapman and Salvador Perez: Photo by Matt Stone/Boston Herald)