In early January, the New York Yankees were still dealing with the loss of Gleyber Torres, who had signed a one-year, $15 million contract with the Detroit Tigers. However, the Yankees quickly shifted focus to replacing Torres, with one of the most exciting ideas being a potential trade involving their top two pitching prospects.
The proposed trade, which ultimately never happened, would have seen the Yankees acquire three-time All-Star and 2015 AL Rookie of the Year Carlos Correa from the Minnesota Twins. In return, the Yankees were set to send two of their top pitching prospects, Will Warren and Chase Hampton, to Minnesota.
However, Hampton’s 2025 season was abruptly derailed when he underwent Tommy John surgery on Friday in New York City. Just days earlier, Yankees manager Aaron Boone had revealed that Hampton, who was participating in spring training, was being evaluated for an issue with his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). Unfortunately, the tests confirmed a tear in the ligament, and Hampton opted for immediate surgery, bringing his 2025 season to an unexpected halt.
Chase HamptonRecovery from Tommy John surgery typically takes at least a year, which means Hampton’s debut in 2025 is now off the table. The 23-year-old right-hander had already struggled with injuries in 2024, making only seven starts across three levels of the minors.
Hampton, a sixth-round pick by the Yankees in 2022, had shown promise in his first two professional seasons. In 2023, he posted a 2.68 ERA in nine starts for the Hudson Valley Renegades and earned a promotion to Double-A, where he finished with a 4.37 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 59 2/3 innings for the Somerset Patriots. Despite his injury setbacks in 2024, he remained one of the Yankees’ top prospects, ranked as the second-best pitching prospect in their system behind Will Warren.
When healthy, Hampton’s fastball, which typically sits in the low 90s, gives him the potential to be a solid No. 4-5 starter, with a higher ceiling as a mid-rotation piece if he can return to his 2023 form. However, with Hampton now sidelined for at least a year, the Yankees have lost a key potential asset for their rotation and will need to adjust their pitching depth as the season progresses.
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