The New York Yankees learned of unfortunate news Friday: Chase Hampton, one of their top pitching prospects, underwent Tommy John surgery. New York Post beat writer Greg Joyce was the first to report the news.
Yankees Top Pitching Prospect Undergoes Tommy John Surgery, Out For The Season
Just brutal news here for Chase Hampton who missed much of last season with a flexor strain.
Hampton was pumped for this year leading up to spring training. Had a new changeup he was working on. Now, even more adversity for the top pitching prospect here in 2025. https://t.co/aqFFZIyj28
— Max Goodman (@MaxTGoodman) February 21, 2025
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Manager Aaron Boone announced on Wednesday that the 23 year-old was suffering from a right flexor strain and that there was “something going on” with his right UCL. Hampton will miss the entirety of 2025 after making just seven starts last season.
Out, Again
With Hampton out for this entire season, and perhaps some of 2026, there’s now reason to doubt his status as one of the Yankees’ best pitching prospects. At 23 years-old, this is a major setback for the promising right-hander. Of course, this doesn’t mean that his chances at becoming a solid major leaguer are shot. In May of 2022, reigning AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil underwent Tommy John surgery, which could have potentially derailed his career. The difference here, though, is that Gil had already made seven starts at the major league level.
Moving Forward
Invited to this year’s Spring Training, Hampton will miss out on an opportunity to impress the Yankees’ brass. New York’s 2022 sixth round pick impressed last season across rookie ball, Single-A Tampa and Double-A Somerset, though his outings were limited. In seven starts, he posted a 2.41 ERA across 16 1/3 innings with 16 strikeouts. Additionally, through his two professional seasons, Hampton has only pitched 125 1/3 innings, a concerning number considering he will turn 24 before reaching Triple-A.
Though this is obviously a major blow for Hampton and the Yankees, there are a few options going forward. New York could try to convert Hampton into a reliever to reduce stress on his arm, or they could keep him on pace to be a starter. The former strategy may end up being the best possible outcome, however, considering a slew of arm injuries he’s been through at his age. For now, the young pitcher will have to wait until next year to continue his career.
Main Photo Credits: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
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