Bleeding Yankee Blue: BAD LUCK BASEBALL: KAPRIELIAN HAS A SETBACK

Monday, April 10, 2017

BAD LUCK BASEBALL: KAPRIELIAN HAS A SETBACK

“I think I can help this team. Obviously, I need to stay healthy. If it ends up being in The Bronx, it’s gonna be a fun time and I hope I can help those guys win. If it’s A-ball, Double-A or Triple-A, I’m gonna try to do the same thing.” - James Kaprielian

Photo: New York Post

We heard that last month from James Kaprielian after he made one appearance in Spring Training. It may have only been a short two inning appearance, but it was a shutout and it got me extremely excited. It was a glimpse of things to come later in 2017 with the possibility of a late season call up. Now that Kaprielian was past his elbow injury it was only supposed to be a matter of time until the next young prospect made his way to the Bronx like the rest of the Youth Movement....but that may be delayed once again.

The Yankees put Kaprielian back on the disabled list last week after experiencing discomfort in his right elbow. Kaprielian made three starts last April before he was placed on the disabled list with a flexor strain that cost him the rest of the season. Kaprielian complained of soreness in the same area and now we all get to sit and hold out breath.

Photo: NJ.com

We don't know much yet but it doesn't sound good. Kaprielian was examined by Dr. Daniel Murphy on Friday and had an MRI exam and a dye-contrast MRI. Those results were also shared with Yankees team doctor Chris Ahmad. Next, he will be examined by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles on Tuesday and that is where this begins to look rather ugly. Whenever the big-time doctors like ElAttrache get involved, it's never a good sign. Players don't go see this guy for second opinions unless there is something scary in the MRI. This is the doctor that players go and see when big surgeries like Tommy John are a possibility.

The Yankees have not released any additional information about possible Tommy John surgery but Brian Cashman is talking, read more HERE. “If we’re at that point, we’ll certainly announce that, but we’re making sure we check all boxes, including the player’s interest as well,” he said.

“So the player asked to see ElAttrache and he’s going to go see ElAttrache.” Even Kaprielian wants to see ElAttrache.

Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Photo: NJ.com

Any major league team has challenges with the dreaded injury bug at some point in the season, but the Yankees already have a lot of injuries and it is only one week into the season. Now that Gary Sanchez just went down with a biceps strain, Didi Gregorius is out for about another month still, and Greg Bird has a nagging right ankle that still hasn't healed the Yankees don't need to add to the list otherwise this is going to be a LONG season.

Photo: Corey Sipkin / New York Daily News

So here are positive thoughts for Kaprielian. The kid is a gamer with a ton of motivation and talent. He just wants a piece of the action and hopefully he doesn't have to miss yet another season. I wonder if the baseball gods accept bribes or if this is highly frowned upon. If it is frowned upon....the bribe was never mentioned or even though of. Hang in there, kid. We are pulling for you!