Aroldis Chapman took the mound in the ninth inning for the Yankees in a 1-1 game and got the first batter to pop up. But something seemed off. He walked gingerly off the mound, prompting Aaron Boone and the trainers to come out and check on him. Chapman waved them off, insisting he was fine, then covered his mouth with his glove and said something that got Boone and catcher Gary Sánchez laughing. Boone confirmed after the game that Chapman was fine, offering no details, and when asked again, just repeated, “He’s fine.”
The speculation picked up from there. Chapman looked uncomfortable, like he was either dealing with a close call or desperately trying to avoid one. He powered through the inning, including a 99 mph fastball and a strong slider for a strikeout, but clearly wanted the game over. Normally he celebrates or stares down hitters after a strikeout, but this time he gave a quick nod and sprinted off the field without talking to coaches or teammates. He went straight to the tunnel, and the camera cut away.
The verdict from those watching: Chapman didn’t suffer an injury. He just needed to get off the field fast for very urgent, very human reasons. All signs point to it being less a physical issue and more a bathroom emergency.