MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon reports that Cincinnati Reds signee Aroldis Chapman was recently torched for eight runs in his seventh start for Triple-A Louisville.

Chapman was roughed up for eight runs on nine hits and three walks over only 3 1/3 innings while striking out five. His undoing was six runs allowed during an eight-run Rochester top of the fourth inning.

Following Trevor Plouffe’s three-run home run with one out in the fourth, Chapman left the game with the Bats trailing, 8-2. Of the 75 pitches he threw, 42 were strikes.

The outing sent Chapman’s ERA from 2.84 to 4.63. Overall, he has allowed 18 earned runs, 36 hits and 21 walks while notching 41 strikeouts over 35 1/3 innings. In three May starts, the 22-year-old Cuban lefty has a 9.42 ERA.

It’s unfortunate, considering he was impressive in April. Meanwhile, Nationals golden boy Stephen Strasburg has yet to have a disastrous outing in the minors.

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And this is news…why? Well, because Mike Leake was taken with the eighth overall pick in last June’s draft and has yet to throw a pitch in the minors yet. Not one.

From ESPN.com:

The 22-year-old Leake beat out Travis Wood, a second-round pick in 2005, and Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman, who was hampered by lower back spasms late in spring training.

“There’s no words to describe it, right now,” said Leake, the former Arizona State star who was selected eighth overall in last June’s draft. “Maybe in a couple days.”

Chapman, who agreed to a $30.25 million, six-year deal in January, was optioned to Triple-A Louisville.

Granted, Leake will actually be reassigned to the minors before Cincinnati needs a fifth starter, but it’s still impressive that he made the big league club without spending at least a couple months in Triple A. Tim Lincecum, the Giants’ two-time Cy Young winner, even spent some time in the minors before he was called up to The Show.

Photo from fOTOGLIF

In order to help get you ready for the MLB season, we’re doing division-by-division rankings with quick overviews on how each club could fair in 2010. Next to each team, you’ll also find a corresponding number written in parenthesis, which indicates where we believe that club falls in a league-wide power ranking. Be sure to check back throughout the next two weeks leading up to the season, as we will be updating our content daily. Enjoy.

All 2010 MLB Preview Content | AL East Preview | AL Central Preview | AL West Preview | NL East | NL Central | NL West

Next up is the NL Central.

1. St. Louis Cardinals (4)
Albert Pujols, Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright and Matt Holliday could help the Cardinals win this division sauced out of their minds on a nightly basis. That said, would anyone really be surprised if Carpenter’s arm falls off and the starting pitching (which is among the best in the league) suffers? It’s happened before, so if you answered “yes” to the proposed question then you sir or madam, have not been paying attention. Still, the addition of Brad Penny (who pitched well in the second half last year) will strengthen the club’s starting pitching and Kyle Lohse is a fine middle of the rotation guy. Pujols and Holliday will ignite the offense again, although Colby Rasmus might be the key to whether or not this team makes a serious World Series run. Skip Schumaker is a solid table setter, but how Rasmus fairs hitting in front of Pujols and Holliday could be the difference between the Cards winning the NL Central again and playing for a championship. David Freese better produce too or else the club will regret not acquiring a veteran third baseman in the offseason. All in all, the Cardinals are the best the NL Central has to offer and should make another postseason appearance this season. But how far they go beyond that depends on whether or not Carpenter and Wainwright can continue their magic and if Pujols and Holliday receive help from the rest of the lineup.

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