Yankees Top Pitching Prospect Kaprielian Placed On DL With Elbow Injury
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Yankees are holding their breath as their top pitching prospect is set to undergo a pair of MRIs on his elbow.
The team announced Thursday that right-hander James Kaprielian has been placed on the minor-league disabled list with elbow pain and will undergo both a regular MRI and a dye-contrast MRI.
In an interview with WFAN's Mike Francesa on Thursday, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said he's keeping his fingers crossed the injury is nothing serious.
"Oh my goodness, he is really talented," Girardi said. "He was a guy that we feel when he pitches and stays healthy, he's going to move quickly. I mean, that's how talented he is. And hopefully this is just a little bump and it's nothing big."
It's another setback for the 2015 first-round pick, who played in just three minor-league games last season due to a flexor tendon injury.
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The 23-year-old pitched in one Grapefruit League game this season, working two scoreless innings in relief. He was set to start this season with the Class-A Advanced Tampa Yankees, for whom he played last season.
Baseball America ranks Kaprielian as the No. 87 prospect in baseball and fifth in the Yankees organization.
