Yankees top pitching prospect Chase Hampton (UCL) sent to NY

Yankees prospect Chase Hampton is dealing with a right flexor strain and a right ulnar collateral ligament issue in his pitching arm and had to be sent to New York for testing, manager Aaron Boone told reporters Wednesday.

Hampton left the team's spring training facility in Tampa, Fla., after feeling discomfort during a bullpen session last Friday. Boone said that the right-hander has "something going on" in his UCL, and the Yankees' skipper is waiting to get more information about the injury.

"We'll see what we have here, but just having an uneven season last year with some injuries, I know he's pretty bummed about that," Boone said.

The 23-year-old Hampton, New York's No. 2 pitching prospect according to MLB Pipeline, made only seven minor league starts in 2024 due to a right flexor strain and a lower-body injury. He made it as far as Double-A, where he took the mound twice for the Somerset Patriots.

Last season with Somerset, Hampton logged 5 2/3 innings. He didn't allow any runs, struck out four and never came away with a decision.

A sixth-round draft pick by the Yankees in 2022, Hampton has gone 4-4 with a 3.45 ERA in 27 starts in the minors.

New York begins its spring-training schedule on Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays.

--Field Level Media