Chapman eager to return after getting tattoo infection

OAKLAND -- The Yankees placed left-handed reliever Aroldis Chapman on the injured list with a leg infection prior to Saturday's game against the A's. The move was retroactive to Aug. 24, and lefty Anthony Banda (who was signed Sunday) filled that spot on the roster for the series finale in Oakland.

Chapman said following Sunday’s 4-1 loss that he got the tattoo -- a portrait of his sister on his left calf -- a little more than a week ago.

“It definitely was a little scary,” Chapman said through an interpreter. “I have many tattoos, and I’ve never gone through something like that. I remember chatting with the doctor, and he basically told me, ‘There’s an infection.’ I had some fevers.”

On Saturday, Boone said he was optimistic that Chapman will pitch again this season. Chapman expressed a similar sentiment.

“I don’t think this is going to take away too much time for me,” Chapman said. “Just waiting the next couple of days for everything to heal correctly so I can start doing baseball activities. I’ll probably do a bullpen and then [go] right into games.”

"Hopefully, he's good in several days," Boone said. "But we've got to get our arms around it and get the infection out of there. It's gotten a little bit worse over the last two days."

Boone said Chapman saw a doctor in Oakland, and the southpaw has been getting the infection treated with antibiotics.

Chapman had not pitched since Aug. 19, when he allowed one run on one hit and two walks in one-third of an inning in New York's 4-0 loss to Toronto. Boone had previously said that Chapman was working through some mechanical issues, as he has struggled while posting a 4.70 ERA in 36 appearances this season.

Asked if he felt like he had let the team down with this unusual injury, Chapman responded, “We have a really good bullpen, and I’m part of that bullpen. So not being there, of course you’re going to feel bad not being there for them.”