Yankees’ first round of roster cuts takes top pitching prospect out of spotlight

With so many important bodies away from camp at the World Baseball Classic, the New York Yankees have been conservative with their spring roster cleaning so far. But Thursday into Friday, they finally began to cull things a little bit, reassigning a few unfamiliar arms and taking care of top prospect Chase Hampton as he works toward his ascent back to the 40-man roster periphery.

In two separate moves, the Yankees sent a trio of unknowns down to minor-league camp: pitchers Adam Kloffenstein, Travis MacGregor, and Drake Fellows. Kloffenstein last appeared in MLB for the St. Louis Cardinals, making just a singular appearance in 2024. Fellows, from the Pirates' organization, seems likely to start the season at Triple-A, repeating the level. MacGregor, who came over from the Angels, has been assigned to Double-A, if MiLB.com is to be believed. Of the three, only Fellows appeared for even one inning at big-league camp this year.

The fourth name who shuffled out of the MLB pool, Hampton, will be much more familiar to casual fans.

Hampton suffered from multiple mysterious injuries in 2024, one of which was revealed by a blurb in an MLB Pipeline top prospect list. He ultimately made seven abbreviated starts that season, totaling 18 2/3 innings and intending to make 2025 his grand healthy comeback.

It didn't work out that way. Hampton's flexor strain became something in need of surgical repair, as they often do. He had the procedure prior to the 2025 campaign, and actually seemed heartened. After all, a pitcher can only go so long with a compromised elbow before a career-pausing surgical procedure that resolves it actually feels like good news.

One year removed from the procedure, Hampton started the spring throwing bullpen sessions. It already felt like a significant step for a pitcher who once ranked as the organization's best, but spent the better part of the past two years either hidden in a hole or publicly faking it.

On Thursday, the Yankees sentenced him to Double-A, but it was hardly a bummer. Now, he can continue his rehab out of the spotlight without any artificially heightened expectations.

What role will Chase Hampton play in New York Yankees' Double-A rotation?

In quotes given to SNY, Aaron Boone made it clear he loved Hampton's early work.

"I don’t know his progression, so to speak. I’ve seen a couple of his bullpens now and it keeps ticking up," Boone told the media before games began. "I know he is chomping at the bit for a little bit more because he is feeling really good as well."

When pressed for a timeline, though, he declined, refusing to "speak out of turn". That's because, even in the Yankees' wildest dreams, there was no way Hampton would be an early big-league role, and didn't deserve to have his buildup bullets wasted during March action. After barely having any chance to take a bite out of Double-A in 2024, he'll get a third shot at it this season (11 starts in 2023, the seven half-measures in '24).

It's a necessary next step, and it could result in a June promotion to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in a crowded house (with Carlos Lagrange and Elmer Rodriguez) if all goes well.