Aroldis Chapman signs with Marc Anthony's agency

Hard-throwing Cincinnati Reds closer Aroldis Chapman became the first athlete to sign with Magnus Sports, founded by singer Marc Anthony in conjunction with an existing boutique sports agency.

The agency made the announcement in a news release on Monday

"Baseball, like music, is an ingrained cultural passion for many Latinos throughout the world, and there's no shortage of amazing stars of Hispanic origin," Anthony said in a statement. "Despite that, until now there hasn't been an enterprise specifically designed to meet their needs.

"We are honored to have the opportunity to begin this venture with a prominent talent like Aroldis."

Anthony – who launched Magnus Media earlier this year, targeted at the entertainment industry – teamed up with Praver Shapiro Sports Management to form Magnus Sports.

The 27-year-old Chapman, a four-time All-Star, is eligible for free agency after next season. He made $8.05 million last season.