Yankees’ Injury Report: Hensley Has Tommy John Surgery
By Wayne Cavadi
Ty Hensley has certainly made news since being drafted in the first round of the 2012 draft by the New York Yankees. Unfortunately, it has rarely been for his pitching.
The New York Post has called Hensley the “unluckiest Yankees prospect ever” and the news of last Tuesday’s Tommy John surgery reinforces that. Hensley’s short career thus far has consisted of a missed 2013 season, a devastating altercation and now being shelved for 2015.
Hensley, the No. 30th ranked prospect in the Yankees’ farm system, has yet to make an appearance over Class A Short Season ball. His brief 2012 debut with the Gulf Coast Yankees was promising, as he posted a 1-2 record with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. He struck out 14 over his four starts and held opponents to a .174 batting average.
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He had hip surgery the following offseason and missed all of 2013 while recovering. The same injury would deprive him off workouts this offseason as well.
The 21-year old right hander made news this winter when he got in an altercation with Anthony Morales, a one time college football player, over Hensley’s signing bonus. The altercation took place back in December at a party. In the wee hours of the morning, Hensley was beaten unconscious and suffered severe bruises to his face. He was hospitalized with black eyes in need of stitches to heal up several lacerations.
Controversy arose over who instigated the fight. Morales’ lawyer said it was self defense, but it was hard to believe that someone who was repeatedly beaten after being unconscious was much of an aggregator.
Hensley did pitch in 2014. He split his time between the Gulf Coast Yankees in rookie ball and the Staten Island Yankees in the Short Season New York/Penn League. He didn’t register a win in his 10 starts, but posted very respectable numbers. A 2.93 ERA with a 1.24 WHIP and 40 strikeouts over 30.2 innings pitched left a lot of hope that Hensley could excel at A-ball this season. Now those expectations will have to wait.
"“As far as one thing after the other, with the whole hip surgery thing and my ab surgery — call it what you want, but I call that a fluke because, it’s just weird,” Hensley was quoted saying in the New York Post. “Now this on the other hand, it’s an elbow injury. I know it takes time and I’m going to have to learn how to throw again, but I’m confident.“I’ve gone through some stuff and gotten through it already so at the end it’s going to be no big deal. I’m going to get through it just fine and I’m going to throw harder, my stuff is going to be better, and I’ll be stronger and better for it.”"
As we all know by now with Tommy John surgery so prevalent in baseball, the healing process is no short order. Hensley will be on the shelf for the next 12 to 14 months. Hopefully when he returns, his misfortunes will change.