New York Yankees reliever Aroldis Chapman placed on IL because of leg infection stemming from tattoo

OAKLAND, Calif. — In the latest chapter of Aroldis Chapman’s disappointing 2022 season, the New York Yankees placed their former closer on the 15-day injured list because of what manager Aaron Boone called “a pretty bad infection” on Chapman’s leg, arising from a new tattoo.

Boone disclosed before Saturday night’s game against the Oakland Athletics that the lefty reliever, who was demoted after Clay Holmes took over the closer role in May, would be placed on the injured list for the second time this season, this time having to deal with a severe leg infection. Chapman missed 35 games earlier in the year (May 24-June 30) because of left Achilles tendinitis.

“[Chapman’s] got an infection in his leg right now. We’re hoping we’d kind of knock it out and be able to take care of it the last couple days, but it’s still significant enough, from a tattoo he recently got; he’s got a pretty bad infection in there,” Boone explained before Saturday’s game against the A’s. “He was actually at the hotel yesterday [Friday], still back at the hotel now. We’re treating him with antibiotics and things like that. So he’s got an infection that he’s dealing with that’s going to force him on the IL.”

Chapman was with the team at the Oakland Coliseum for the first matchup of the four-game series against the Athletics on Thursday, but he was unavailable to pitch because of increased leg discomfort.

“We’re treating him with antibiotics and things like that,” Boone added. “Hopefully he’s good in several days. We can backdate this a few days, but we have 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.”

A person familiar with the situation told ESPN that the Yankees are legitimately concerned about the present state of Chapman’s leg infection and did not discount a potential visit to a local hospital near the team hotel…