Yanks prospect Hampton down with flexor strain, possible UCL injury

TAMPA, Fla. ¨C Yankees pitching prospect Chase Hampton has been diagnosed with a right flexor strain and appears to have ¡°something going on¡± in his right ulnar collateral ligament, manager Aaron Boone said on Thursday.

Hampton, who is rated as the Yankees¡¯ second-best pitching prospect by MLB Pipeline, felt the discomfort after a Feb. 14 bullpen session, according to Boone.

¡°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.

Hampton opened the 2024 season as the Yankees¡¯ No. 6 prospect, but his first half was wiped out by what was initially feared to be an injury to his right UCL and was later diagnosed as a flexor strain.

The 23-year-old returned to the mound with Double-A Somerset in August, making two starts before being shelved by a lower-body injury.

Hampton was selected by the Yankees in the sixth round of the 2022 MLB Draft from Texas Tech University. He has pitched to a 3.45 ERA over 27 Minor League starts at four levels of the Bombers farm system, spanning 125 1/3 innings.