Chapman looks like a game-changer in Cubs debut

2:38 AM ET

CHICAGO — The cheers in the ninth inning Wednesday at Wrigley Field came with a delay. That’s because after each of new Chicago Cubs closer Aroldis Chapman’s pitches, the sold-out crowd had to wait a split-second before the number appeared on the scoreboard. Then the buzz built.

101 mph

102 mph

103 mph

Chapman didn’t make it over 103 in his Cubs debut, but only one of his 13 fastballs thrown to the Chicago White Sox clocked in under 100 mph. He pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning and struck out two in a blowout 8-1 win. In the process, he electrified fans and new teammates alike.

“It’s a sight to see,” winning pitcher Jason Hammel said after the game. “I’ve never seen anything like it. That’s impressive. It’s jaw-dropping.”

Hammel joked that he wasn’t that impressed, considering the fastest Chapman threw Wednesday was a couple miles per hour off his season high. Of course, Chapman had to generate his own adrenaline because he was pitching with a large lead. But the crowd must have helped. The fans were standing for every pitch as Chapman kept firing away.

“It was a pretty exciting moment,” Chapman said through catcher Miguel Montero, who interpreted for him. “The crowd pumped me up a little more.”

The Cubs’ revamped bullpen looked dominant in its first outing with former closer Hector Rondon taking over the eighth inning. He too set the White …

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