National Baseball Report

Chapman signs contract - rumored to be with the Reds

Cuban pitcher Aroldis Chapman has signed a $30 million contract with a National League club according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com.  The Cincinnati Reds are the team rumored to have signed Chapman.  The Reds were one of the 15 or so teams that attended his workout in Houston in December.  FoxSports.com reported on Friday that the Reds were interested in Chapman.  The $30 million contract is double the contract signed by the number one draft pick, Stephen Strasburg.

Strasburg donates $144,000 to San Diego State

Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg donated $144,000 to the San Diego State baseball program.  Strasburg was the number one overall pick of the Nationals in the 2009 draft.  He was 12-1 with a 1.32 ERA at San Diego State.  The school is planning on using the money to upgrade the surface of their playing field.

Hall of Fame player Tony Gwynn is the coach at San Diego State.

"Stephen was electric on the mound," Gwynn said. "Yet, we knew he was an even better kid. This gift reinforces our belief that for all of his baseball abilities, Stephen is an even better person."

Surgery not necessary for Strasburg

Washington Nationals' overall number one draft pick Stephen Strasburg will not need surgery on his knee.  Strasburg twisted his left knee in a workout on Thursday.  Strasburg will have to rest the knee, ice it and undergo therapy.  In five Arizona Fall League starts, Strasburg went 4-1 with a 4.26 ERA and struck out 26 batters in 19 innings.

Source: Bill Ladson - MLB.com

Strasburg injures knee

Washington Nationals prospect Stephen Strasburg has injured his left knee during a workout and will miss the Arizona Fall League championship game Saturday.  Strasburg twisted his left knee and an MRI show inflammation in the knee.  He will be examined on Friday in Los Angeles.  The injury is not considered serious.

Source: Associated Press - Sports Illustrated

Strasburg scratched from Rising Stars game

The Associated Press reports that Stephen Strasburg will not participate in the Arizona Fall League's Rising Stars game Saturday night.  Strasburg strained a neck muscle and it is not known if he will miss his next AFL start.  The Washington Nationals selected Strasburg with the number one pick in the MLB draft in June.