James Kaprielian Likely Out for Season with Elbow Injury

New York Yankees minor league pitcher James Kaprielian, ranked the organization’s number four prospect by MLB Pipeline, has been diagnosed with a flexor tendon strain in his right elbow and is likely to miss the remainder of the 2016 season.

After three dominant starts for the High-A Tampa Yankees back in April, James Kaprielian

was placed on the minor league disabled list

with discomfort in his right elbow. The New York Yankees first round pick in the 2015 amateur draft (18th overall), Kaprielian appeared to be on the fast track to the Bronx this season before the injury.

Following a surprise invitation to major league spring training, Kaprielian struck out 22 batters in his first 18 innings of work this year, while surrendering just three walks and three earned runs. If he had continued to pitch that well in Tampa, a quick promotion to Double-A Trenton was likely in order.

Instead, James Kaprielian has been sidelined since April 21 with few specifics released as to the condition of his elbow. In late May, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner told reporters outside the annual Owners’ Meeting in New York, that Kaprielian was close to beginning a throwing program and would return to the mound at the end of June.

Related Story: Yankees Optimistic About James Kaprielian's Rehab

Apparently there has now been a hitch in that plan, as Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports that Kaprielian was examined by team doctor Christopher Ahmad on Tuesday and is scheduled to meet with Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles for a second opinion on the lingering discomfort in his pitching elbow.

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While the ligament in his elbow is reportedly fine, a flexor strain is still a serious problem that can snowball into other issues, including the dreaded TJ surgery. Hopefully Dr. ElAttrache will have better news for us, but at the moment it appears as if James Kaprielian is done pitching this season.

If Kaprielian does require surgery, that would mean missing the 2017 campaign as well, which would be crushing for such a highly regarded pitcher just beginning his professional career. He recently expressed his frustration in an interview with MLB.com, telling Hoch, “It’s tough that I have to sit and watch every day, especially when you want to get out there and throw the ball. You put in a lot of work and time and dedication into your craft and stuff, and I just want be there and be able to support the guys around me and my team.”

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