James Kaprielian Dazzles in Tampa Yankees Debut

With the New York Yankees off for the night, all eyes shifted down to George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa Florida where top-pitching prospect James Kaprielian made his T-Yanks Debut.

And boy did he absolutely dazzle.

In five innings pitched, the 22-year old right-hander scattered just three hits while striking out an impressive nine Bradenton (Pitt) batters. Aside from giving up just one earned run via a sacrifice fly in the top half of the fourth inning, James Kaprielian was in absolute cruise control.

Of the 60 pitches hurled by Kaprielian, 49 of them were strikes. In the top half of the third inning, the former UCLA Bruin stuck out the side in order, getting Jeff Roy, Kevin Newman and Kevin Kramer to all strike out looking in a 12-pitch inning.

Thanks to a two-run homer off the bat of Miguel Andujar and a pair of wild-pitches with runners in scoring position by Marauders right-hander Austin Coley, Kaprielian exited the ballgame in the top of the sixth with a 4-1 lead.

Some impeccable bullpen work from 23-year old southpaw Daniel Camarena (3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO, 1 HR, 1.50 ERA), a 22-pitch save by ‘the strikeout factory’ Jacob Lindgren and another insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning helped propel the T-Yanks to a 5-2 victory, earning James Kaprielian his first Class-A Advanced win in his first minor league start above rookie ball.

I know it’s early on in the season, but if Kaprielian keeps up this body of work, he’ll probably find himself in Double-A Trenton by the end of May and possibly even Triple-A Scranton by seasons end!

Next: Yankees Biggest Take Away from Week One of the Regular Season

Kaprielian’s next start will likely come on the road over the weekend when the Tampa Yankees travel down south to Port Charlotte, Florida for a four game series with the Charlotte Stone Crabs (TB Rays).