Yankees pitching prospect Chase Hampton suffers flexor strain, also has UCL issue

TAMPA — Chase Hampton is hurting once again.

Aaron Boone said the Yankees pitching prospect complained about “elbow stuff” after throwing a bullpen on Friday. It turns out Hampton has a flexor strain and “something going on” with his ulnar collateral ligament, Boone said.

The right-handed Hampton was back in New York for further testing on Wednesday. Boone hoped to know more in the next 24-48 hours.

“Him just having an uneven season last year with some injury [issues], I know he’s pretty bummed about that,” Boone said. “But we’ll see what we have and try and get it right.”

Hampton, 23, is considered the Yankees’ seventh-best prospect and third-best pitching farmhand, according to Baseball America. Ben Hess and Bryce Cunningham, the Yankees’ first two picks of the 2024 draft, rank ahead of Hampton.

As Boone alluded to, Hampton struggled with health last season. He suffered what the Yankees initially thought was a UCL injury early in the season. It was later diagnosed as a flexor strain.

Hampton also dealt with a groin injury. The aches limited him to seven starts. He recorded a 2.41 ERA between Rookie Ball, Single-A and Double-A.

A sixth-round pick out of Texas Tech in 2022, Hampton was a consensus top-100 prospect entering the 2024 season. He has totaled 27 starts, 125.1 innings and a 3.45 ERA over two professional seasons.

Hampton was invited to his first big league camp last season, and he was thought of as young rotation depth at the time. He entered this spring in similar standing, but his latest injuries could get in the way once again.

PEREIRA ONLY DH’ING

Boone said that Everson Pereira, coming off UCL surgery, won’t play the field until mid-March. The outfielder is going to DH until then, including an appearance in Friday’s spring training opener against the Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

“His throwing program is going well,” Boone said, “but not quite ready yet.”

Pereira, the Yankees’ 25th-best prospect, debuted in 2023. He only hit .151 and didn’t play in the majors last season before getting hurt after 40 games at Triple-A.

The 23-year-old Pereira has put up solid numbers over 75 games at Triple-A, hitting .287/.365/.530 with 18 home runs and 60 RBI.

Pereira entered camp as a bit of an afterthought, but Boone made him sound higher on the depth chart than some might expect. Giancarlo Stanton’s tennis elbows could also open lanes for younger hitters like Pereira and Ben Rice.

“Maybe he’s not necessarily blocked. Maybe there is a role that he carves out for himself. He really impacts the baseball. He’s a good defender in the outfield,” Boone said of Pereira. “He’s a guy that I could very much see in the mix at some point, especially being a right-handed bat and good two-way player.

“He’s someone I’ll be watching closely.”

Boone added that Pereira is in “terrific shape” after changing his body composition.

NO TIMELINE FOR STANTON

Boone said that there is no current timeline for Stanton to resume baseball activities. The manager noted that the DH has undergone MRIs, and Boone previously said Stanton hasn’t needed any injections or procedures thus far.

Boone and Stanton have also said it’s too soon to know if Stanton, who has a long injury history, will miss Opening Day.

STROMAN GETS FIRST START

Marcus Stroman, who missed the Yankees’ first two official workouts for pitchers and catchers, will start the Yankees’ spring opener on Friday, Boone announced.

The righty hasn’t faced live hitters yet, but Boone said Stroman’s bullpens have been “intense.” He’ll only throw one inning on Friday.

Boone said tabbing Stroman for the exhibition opener came down to scheduling with regards to the Yankees’ pitching staff. Stroman, 33, has been the subject of trade rumors since the offseason began, and he appears to be the odd man out of the Yankees’ rotation should their starters make it through spring training healthy.

Upon returning to camp, Stroman said that he would not pitch in the bullpen.