The Cincinnati Reds will send left handed pitcher Aroldis Chapman to Puerto Rico to begin his transition as a starter according to John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Chapman will first play in the Instructional League in Goodyear, and then he’ll travel to Puerto Rico.

“We’re finalizing plans right now,” Reds GM Walt Jocketty said. “He’ll gradually build up his innings. He’ll pitch two or three innings to start. Eventually, we’ll get him up to five innings.”

The left hander will spend one month in Winter League, and Jocketty believes that will give him enough time to rest before Spring Training.

Chapman was 4-1 with a 3.60 ERA in 50.0 innings throughout 54 relieving appearances with the Reds in 2011.

Image by Keith Allison under the Creative Commons License.