Before the season began, two of the biggest story lines in the National League were where pitching phenoms Stephen Strasburg and Aroldis Chapman would start the season. Some wanted the Nationals and Reds, respectively, to pull the trigger on a spot in the rotation for each high-priced newcomer. Smartly, neither team did.
For both pitchers, their Minor League debuts made headlines around the baseball world, and their home debuts created enormous ticket demand. Chapman’s first home game for the Louisville Bats – on April 17 – drew 13,131 fans. The Reds, by comparison, drew 12,965 fans for their next home game three days later against the Dodgers. Mel Antonen of USA Today pointed out this week that Chapman’s first home start coincided with the kickoff of Louisville’s pre Derby celebration, so the crowd may have been there more for fireworks than flame-throwing from Chapman.
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