It has not been Aroldis Chapman's year. If that wasn't clear enough by his career-high 4.70 ERA, his latest ailment certainly established that.
The Yankees on Saturday placed Chapman on the 15-day injured list with a leg infection. The cause? A new tattoo.
"I don't have tattoos, I don't know," manager Aaron Boone said, according to MLB.com's Sonja Chen. "I mean, that's a personal choice, like usually a pretty safe thing to deal with. But this is more of an unfortunate situation that has turned into an infection, so I mean, my focus is on trying to get him right and healthy."
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Chapman was placed on the injured list retroactive to Aug. 24. Boone said he hopes Chapman will be able to pitch again this season.
"Hopefully he's good in several days," Boone said.
This is the second time in 2022 Chapman has been placed on the injured list. He was out from May 22 to July 2 with left Achilles tendinitis.
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The tattoo is a portrait of Chapman's sister, according to YES Network play-by-play voice Michael Kay.
A tattoo infection might sound unique, but according to the Cleveland Clinic, it can happen even with an experienced tattoo artist in a clean and sterile shop. It noted that infections can affect the outer layer of skin or be deeper.
The Cleveland Clinic noted that those with infections from tattoos can feel chills, fever, inflammation, itchiness, pain that worsens, soreness and/or sweats. Antibiotics are listed as the most common treatment, but it could take several months for a person to make a full recovery.
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Chapman, 34, entered the season as the Yankees' presumptive closer, and he began the year in dominant fashion with seven saves and a 0.00 ERA in his first 12 appearances, with 11 strikeouts and seven walks in 10 1/3 innings of work. Then his season began to spiral on May 11. Over his next five appearances, he allowed six runs in 3 2/3 innings (14.73 ERA) and took a pair of losses before being placed on the injured list. Clay Holmes replaced him as the closer.
Since returning from the Achilles injury, Chapman has a 5.40 ERA over 16 2/3 innings spanning 19 appearances, with 20 strikeouts and 12 walks.
His previous career-high ERA was 3.60 in 2011, his first full season in MLB.
