On August 9, Yankees top pitching prospect, who had been striving all season to return to action, spoke with Mike Ashmore about his commitment to his offseason objectives:
“It was definitely frustrating,” Hampton remarked on Wednesday. “I wanted to pitch, gain some innings, advance to Triple-A, and eventually reach the major leagues. It took a while to get healthy and back in shape, and there were a few mechanical issues along the way, but now we’re starting to get back on track.”
As if Chase Hampton’s big-league aspirations hadn’t already been dashed by his March injury—a flexor strain initially misreported as a shoulder issue—such a promotion is now firmly out of reach.
Unfortunately, Hampton managed only 18 2/3 innings this season after recovering from the initial elbow injury, and just 5 2/3 innings at the Double-A level, which was his 2023 high after rehab. After just two innings in his second start of the season with Somerset, he was removed from the game and placed on the IL Tuesday morning.
The latest issue is reportedly a “lower-body problem,” but even if it’s not severe, with only a month left in the minor-league season, 2024 is likely a lost year for Hampton. Despite his big-league potential, particularly given the Yankees’ rotation struggles, his path to the majors seems further away now.
Yankees top pitching prospect Chase Hampton hits IL again in another injury blow
If Nestor Cortes Jr. is traded this offseason, as many expect, it would open up a spot in the Yankees’ rotation. With Cortes potentially gone, the team will need insurance, and both Chase Hampton and Will Warren would likely be top candidates for that role, especially if the Yankees had been able to evaluate Hampton more thoroughly this season.
However, it seems Hampton’s journey to the big leagues will have to wait until next spring.
On a positive note, at least there are updates on Hampton. In contrast, fellow top pitching prospect Brock Selvidge has been silent since July 6, when he allowed five earned runs in five innings against the Reading Fightin’ Phils.
Leave a Reply