TOUGH NEWS FOR YANKEES’ HAMPTON | Tommy John surgery likely sidelines Kilgore native for ’25 season
From the “oh, no” department, New York Yankees right-handed pitcher Chase Hampton had Tommy John surgery on Friday on his throwing arm.
Major news outlets across the country were reporting the news on Saturday, including the New York media, NBC Sports, ESPN and others.
Hampton, of course, is from Kilgore, went to Kilgore High School and helped the Diamond ‘Dogs reach the UIL Class 4A State Tournament in his junior season back in 2019. His senior season, like all of the class of 2020, was cut short due to the now-infamous COVID-19 panic.
Hampton, now 23, went on to star at Texas Tech University, and was drafted in the 2022 Major League Baseball draft. He had a $497,500 sign-on bonus and Major League Baseball’s own website – MLB.com – rated him as the Yankees’ No. 6 best prospect last year. He is considered one of the top pitchers in the organization. This year, Baseball America still had Hampton rated as the organization’s No. 7 prospect.
His season is likely over.
“He’s really talented and got a chance to be a really good pitcher, and this doesn’t stop that,” Boone told the media as he broke the news about Hampton’s surgery. “This just puts a pause on it and obviously puts a delay on things.
“…I think in his mind, just dealing with some of the things he’s had to deal with over the last year-plus, I think there’s a little bit of, ‘Hey, let’s get fixed and get back on the trail.’ So hopefully there’s a little comfort in knowing that he has a chance to put this behind him. So, long road back, but doesn’t change what a talented guy he is.”
He was in Yankees’ camp in Tampa, Florida for a second straight year this spring, and the New York Post, among other outlets, reported he had some discomfort after throwing in the bullpen a week ago.
He had an MRI, and that resulted in the TJ surgery.
Two years ago, in summer 2023, throwing for Somerset (at AA) and Hudson Valley (single A), Hampton went 4-3 with a 3.63 ERA, with 145 strikeouts over 106 2/3 innings. He missed much of last year due to a flexor strain and didn’t throw until July 1. He also didn’t pitch after Aug. 10 due to a lower-body injury.