TAMPA — Chase Hampton received’t return to the mound anytime quickly.
The Yankees pitching prospect underwent Tommy John surgical procedure on Friday, Aaron Boone confirmed following the Bombers’ spring coaching opener. The brutal final result got here a few days after Boone revealed that Hampton had flown again to New York as a consequence of a flexor pressure and “something going on” along with his ulnar collateral ligament.
Hampton, a righty, initially complained about his elbow after throwing a bullpen final Friday.
The operation means one other injury-derailed season for Hampton. Nevertheless, Boone introduced a silver lining, stating “there’s a little relief” for the 23-year-old after he battled one other flexor pressure and a groin harm in 2024.
“He’s really talented and has a chance to be a really good pitcher, and this doesn’t stop that. This just puts a pause on it, and obviously puts a delay on things,” Boone stated. “Hopefully there’s a little comfort in knowing that he has a chance now to put this behind him. Long road back, but it doesn’t change what a talented guy he is.”
Hampton’s accidents restricted him to seven begins in 2024. He recorded a 2.41 ERA between Rookie Ball, Single-A and Double-A.
A sixth-round pick of Texas Tech in 2022, Hampton was a consensus top-100 prospect this time final yr. He attended his first massive league camp final spring and had an opportunity to place himself as a depth starter this yr, however that’s now not the case.
Hampton has tallied simply 27 begins, 125.1 innings and a 3.45 ERA over two skilled seasons. He’s thought of the Yankees’ seventh-best farmhand and third-best pitching prospect, based on Baseball America. Ben Hess and Bryce Cunningham, the Yankees’ first two picks of the 2024 draft, rank forward of Hampton.
The Yankees’ third decide within the 2024 draft, Thatcher Hurd, additionally wants Tommy John surgical procedure, per Baseball America’s Geoff Pontes. The proper-hander will bear the process subsequent week.
Hurd, a 22-year-old out of LSU, has but to make his skilled debut. Baseball America ranked him twelfth within the Yankees’ system.
