Yanks Top Pitching Prospect Headed to DL

The Yankees have already been hit with the early injury bug at the major league level in 2016, with Aaron Hicks and Alex Rodriguez on the shelf for a few days at least with shoulder/oblique issues respectively. And now, the injury plague has hit the Yankees at the minor league level in a big way.

James Kaprielian, the No. 4 prospect in the Yankees system and the top pitching prospect, has been sent to the disabled list with elbow inflammation.

He will be shut down and treated with caution and will be given rest and a throwing program to recover. No timetable is set for his return.

Any time you hear elbow pain, you immediately think Tommy John is coming, but manager Joe Girardi had this to say, via the Newsday article in the Tweet above.

“The MRI came out good for us,” manager Joe Girardi said, meaning the test showed no structural damage. “We’ll be cautious because we can. I think it’s important that we’re cautious. But it’s always a concern.”

This is bad news for the Yankees because even though he was only in A-Ball right now, Kaprielian is a guy that could have gotten to the majors quickly.

He is 2-1 with a 1.50 ERA this year.