Yankees Suffer Another Blow as Pitching Prospect Undergoes Tommy John Surgery
The New York Yankees have been dealt another setback as pitching prospect Chase Hampton will miss the entire 2025 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. This unexpected development follows an already difficult offseason for the Yankees, who were still adjusting to the loss of longtime second baseman Gleyber Torres, who signed with the Detroit Tigers.
Earlier in the offseason, the Yankees explored potential moves to strengthen their roster, including a trade for Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa. The proposed deal, which never materialized, would have involved sending the Yankees’ top two pitching prospects, Will Warren and Chase Hampton, to Minnesota. Now, even if that trade had gone through, Hampton would not have been available, as his injury has sidelined him for the foreseeable future.
Hampton Opts for Immediate Surgery
On Friday, the 23-year-old right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery in New York City, just days after Yankees manager Aaron Boone revealed concerns about his elbow. Medical imaging confirmed a UCL tear, forcing Hampton to make the tough decision to undergo surgery right away. Boone acknowledged the setback but expressed optimism about Hampton’s future, noting that the procedure gives him a chance to fully recover and return stronger.
Hampton’s recovery timeline means he will miss the entire 2025 season. His 2024 campaign had already been limited due to injuries, restricting him to just seven starts across different minor league levels.
Promising Future Put on Hold
A sixth-round pick out of Texas Tech in 2022, Hampton quickly climbed the Yankees’ prospect rankings. In 2023, he impressed in his professional debut, posting a 2.68 ERA with the Hudson Valley Renegades before moving up to Double-A Somerset, where he struck out 68 batters in 59 2/3 innings. By the end of 2024, he was ranked as New York’s second-best pitching prospect behind Will Warren.
Hampton had been projected as a potential mid-rotation starter, with analysts suggesting he could settle into a No. 4 or No. 5 role. However, with his surgery and lengthy recovery ahead, the Yankees have now lost a key potential reinforcement from their farm system for at least another year.
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