A Look Back at the Royals Top 31 Prospects: #18 Kevin Chapman

The Kansas City Royals didn’t get the reap the benefits of their number 18 prospect according to Baseball America heading into the 2012 season. Left-handed reliever Kevin Chapman was traded during spring training to Houston for catcher Humberto Quintero (who was then released once Salvador Perez was deemed healthy during the season).

When Chapman locates his 93-95 mph fastball, he can succeed solely with that pitch. He was named a 2012 Texas League All-Star. However, he has control problems and gives up a ton of hits.

In 49 games (58 innings) with Double-A Corpus Christi in the Texas League (with the Astros in 2012), he allowed 49 hits and 32 walks. He struck out 59. He only allowed two homeruns on the season. Lefties hit just .200 against Chapman, but he did walk 16 lefties in 21.1 innings.

When Chapman pitched in High-A Wilmington in 2011, I never saw him pitch well and he regularly allowed inherited runners to score. However, there were some who were upset about the trade because of his upside and ability to get lefties out.

Chapman could be an asset to the Astros as they begin a new era in the American League starting in 2013. Or he could be toiling yet again in the minor leagues.

*Check out an interview Chapman did with the guys at PineTarPress back in 2011.