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Aroldis Chapman: Cubs have ‘welcomed me with open arms’
- Updated: August 2, 2016
4:10 PM ET
CHICAGO — Just a week in, Aroldis Chapman feels right at home in Chicago.
Amid the controversy surrounding his acquisition by the Chicago Cubs from the New York Yankees — controversy born largely from a 30-game suspension under MLB’s domestic violence policy — Chapman has relied on the support of his new teammates to become accustomed to what is now his third team in less than two years.
“My new teammates have treated me so well,” Chapman told ESPN.com in Spanish. “They have welcomed me, and that has helped me adapt better. Even before I joined the team, they sent me messages welcoming me. Strop was the first one to send me a message and also called me and offered me his support.”
In the Cubs’ clubhouse last week, Chapman appeared comfortable, hanging out with Pedro Strop and Héctor Rondón, sitting at Javier Báez’s locker and kidding around with Justin Grimm.
“It felt strange to put on a new uniform, but in the end this team and its fans are great,” Chapman said. “It’s a demanding fan base. They are crazy about their team and they are hungry [for a championship]. The team has welcomed me with open arms. What I have seen from these fans is not something you see every day.”
But the acquisition hasn’t come without its challenges. In October 2015, Chapman fired eight gunshots into a garage after arguing with his …
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