I am tired of the big bats conversations. Yes, we need offense. Yes, we need our hitters to actually get meaningful hits, consistently. But if we don't have good starting pitching, consistently, our hitters will be overtaxed and guess what, they won't be able to keep up. So, I have had enough banter about big bats, what about getting our team another big arm for the starting rotation? And that get can be right from within?
I know there are a number of major league pitchers on the bench right now as spring training camps get ready to open. I have had my fill of discussion around Blake Snell and Trevor Bauer. But I am liking what I am hearing about Chase Hampton, who is currently pitching for the Yankees Double A team in Somerset, NJ.
"While other pitching prospects are focused on more basic steps in their evolution, Hampton has graduated to more of an advanced education. The 22-year-old is having high-level conversations leading up to spring training, like how to create swing and miss inside of the zone, how he can use certain pitches to get hitters to expand and how can he effectively utilize his pitch mix in different counts. It all comes back to pitch execution, making tweaks to his delivery to promote consistency, health and velocity," reported NJ.com.
Hampton was invited to spring training which opens for pitchers and catchers officially on February 15th, this upcoming Thursday. "Hampton posted a 3.63 ERA in 20 starts between Hudson Valley and Somerset last season, striking out 145 batters in 106 2/3 innings. Only seven other minor-league pitchers that threw more than 100 innings in 2023 had a higher strikeout-per-nine ratio than Hampton (12.23)," reported NJ.com.
Now if Hampton has a great spring, he could be pushed forward to Scranton and hopefully up to the Bronx by mid-season. But I know, that is a fast trajectory. But honestly, maybe, just maybe, the Yankees should consider that kind of pace of entry into the majors. I feel like they take too long to get these guys up there and if he is evaluated to be focused on his craft, I feel like a little time with another guy focused on his craft, Gerrit Cole, could be good for a guy like Hampton.
According to his pitching coach in Somerset, Brett DeGagne, “We all have super high expectations for him. The character is so high, the work ethic and things of that nature are so great that he’s a guy you root for just as much as you’re excited about him as a player. You’re excited about him as a person too and what he brings to the clubhouse.”
Behind Hampton are two other young pitchers Brock Selvidge, LHP and Zach Messinger, RHP. Messinger is 26 and according to DeGagne, "cut from the same cloth as Hampton." Could the Yankees accelerate their young pitchers into the starting rotation sooner and save the money on the back end? Let's see how Hampton does this spring and go from there. There is certainly optimism, at least from me, regarding pitching and how we are fairing. I am hopeful the Yankees can get on the right track early, and this spring sets them up well for the season ahead.
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--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof
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