The Yankees have announced that James Kaprielian, the Yankees first round pick in 2015, will undergo Tommy John surgery on April 18. The surgery will be performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache.
The right handed pitcher was coming off a flexor tendon sprain last season. At Arnold O. Beckham High School in Irvine, Kaprielian was 33-3 with an ERA just under one. He was drafted by the Mariners but instead went to UCLA.
After coming out of the bullpen for the Bruins, he became a starter and one of the best prospects in the country. In 2015, the Yankees used him with the 16th overall pick in the draft.
He pitched in four games in the minors in 2015, including three for Staten Island.
Last season he pitched for Tampa and Scottsdale before the injury shortened his season. If he pitched at all this season, it would’ve likely been as a September call up. It will still be up to a combination of veterans and youngsters like Luis Severino and Jordan Montgomery.