The 2023 season is one of the worst for the Yankees rotation as a whole. Except for Gerrit Cole’s Cy Young show, the rotation fell flat riddled with injuries, inconsistencies, and abject failures. However, there is a bright line for the Yankees as their farm system is ready to back up with outstanding pitching depth. One of them, Chase Hampton, is already being called “Mini Gerrit Cole” for his pitching resemblance to the illustrious Yankees ace.
Chase Hampton: Yankees’ ‘Mini Cole’
Certainly, there’s no one quite like Gerrit Cole, the Yankees’ top pitcher, who is expected to win the American League Cy Young Award this season. However, right-handed pitcher Chase Hampton has received some good-natured comparisons to one of the top pitchers in the league.
According to Sam Briend, who oversees Yankees’ pitchers in the minors, Chase Hampton possesses a wide range of skills. Some of the players humorously liken him to a younger Gerrit Cole due to certain resemblances, although they are well aware that he isn’t Gerrit Cole. Briend expressed his admiration for Hampton’s progress, stating that he is quite impressive.
The Yankees drafted Chase Hampton when he was 22 years old in the sixth round of the 2022 draft from Texas Tech. The pitcher had a solid season, which might earn him a promotion to Double-A and an opportunity to make it to the majors next year. In High A, Hampton had a 2-1 record with a 2.68 ERA in nine starts, and in Double-A, he went 2-2 with a 4.37 ERA in 11 starts.
Briend mentioned that Chase Hampton’s fastball is one of the best in the Yankees’ organization, typically ranging from 93 to 95 mph with a high spin rate and a slight tail. Additionally, Hampton has a slider, a curveball, and a cutter in his pitching arsenal.
Drew Thorpe’s wild changeup making waves
Drew Thorpe, a 23-year-old right-handed pitcher, led all minor league players in strikeouts this season, totaling 186 strikeouts. He accomplished this while playing for both High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset. The Yankees selected Drew Thorpe in the second round of the 2022 draft from Cal Poly. His standout pitch is the changeup, and he has also made significant improvements in various aspects of his game.
Briend mentioned that Drew Thorpe’s changeup is reminiscent of the one thrown by Baltimore Orioles pitcher John Means, as it has a remarkable ability to drop sharply, making it a challenging pitch for hitters to handle.
Briend stated that Drew Thorpe had excellent control over the changeup. He also noted the impressive horizontal movement on his fastball. Throughout the year, the pitcher effectively used this pitch, even at the Double-A level. Briend marveled at how Drew Thorpe could throw the changeup at will, often causing batters to miss it. It left an impression on other players, who described it as a pitch that seemed like a fastball but would suddenly vanish.
Drew Thorpe’s performance earned him the title of South Atlantic League Pitching Prospect of the Year. He achieved this recognition by maintaining a 2.81 ERA and a 10-2 record in 18 starts for Hudson Valley. During this time, he struck out an impressive 11.4 batters per nine innings while only walking 2.7.
When he briefly played in Double-A, the Yankees prospect continued to excel with a 4-0 record and a remarkable 1.48 ERA in five starts. He has numerous pitching weapons and could use them effectively throughout the year.
Another star rising
Clayton Beeter had a season with its ups and downs. When he played at Double-A, he managed a record of 6 wins and 2 losses with a 2.08 ERA in 12 starts. However, after his promotion to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, his performance declined, and he ended up with a record of 3 wins and 5 losses, along with a 4.94 ERA in 15 games, of which 14 were starts. Additionally, his walk rate (BB/9) was quite high at 5.1.
But the Yankees are hopeful that a 25-year-old right-handed pitcher, who must be protected from the Rule 5 Draft this offseason, has learned a great deal from his experiences. The upcoming year will show a different version of Clayton Beeter. However, Briend acknowledged that the past year had been a bit humbling for the Yankees prospect because he had to change his entire approach when he transitioned to Triple-A. He couldn’t depend solely on his strengths and had to discover new ones.
In 2022, the Yankees acquired Clayton Beeter from the Dodgers in exchange for Joey Gallo. He throws a fastball in the mid-90s, with a strong spin rate that can reach up to 98 mph. He’s also known for his impressive slider. However, this year, the Yankees wanted him to focus on developing a changeup.
Yankees two FCL heroes
The Yankees’ Florida Complex League gained recognition for having several promising prospects, and among them was shortstop Roderick Arias. However, two standout pitchers on the team were Henry Lalane, aged 19, and Carlos Lagrange, aged 20, and their height of 6-foot-7 was not the only reason for their prominence.
Lalane, a left-handed pitcher born in the Bronx but raised in the Dominican Republic, had a record of 1 win and 0 losses with a 4.57 ERA in eight games. He managed to strike out 34 batters in 21 2/3 innings.
According to Briend, Lalane’s fastball typically averaged around 94 mph, and he was described as “extremely athletic” with good control and the ability to effectively maneuver the ball around the strike zone.
On the other hand, LaGrange, a right-handed pitcher from the Dominican Republic, posted a 4.97 ERA in 12 games, recording 63 strikeouts in 41 2/3 innings. LaGrange’s fastball hit 100 mph, initially averaging around 97 mph early in the season before settling at about 95 mph as fatigue set in. Briend described him as a big power arm who could throw two distinct fastballs, one being a significant sinker and the other a high-velocity heater. Additionally, LaGrange displayed impressive wipeout sliders.
Briend acknowledged that LaGrange was still relatively raw, especially for someone of his age and height, standing at 6-foot-7. However, he highlighted LaGrange’s ability to make adjustments, intelligence, growing awareness, and improved feel for the game. Briend explained that LaGrange had a strong foundation to build upon, despite his youth, and could be a cornerstone for the team.
2023 impressive season
Chase Hampton, at the young age of 22, has quickly ascended through the ranks of the New York Yankees’ farm system, carving out a reputation as a pitcher with a promising future ahead. In 2023, Hampton made his professional debut and established himself as a rising arm in the system. After beginning the year at High-A Hudson Valley, he was promoted to Double-A Somerset, where he combined for 3.63 ERA across 106 ⅔ innings, further embellishing his stats with 145 strikeouts. His performance that season — including repeated strikeouts and solid command when healthy — put him on prospect radars ahead of 2024.
2024 — Breakthrough Year Interrupted by Injury
Hampton entered 2024 as a non-roster invitee to Yankees spring training, already viewed internally as a potential fast riser through the system. However, in March 2024, he was placed on the 60-day injured list due to arm fatigue. Despite the early setback, general manager Brian Cashman reaffirmed the club’s confidence in Hampton, stressing the organization’s “patience with top-tier pitching talent.”
Once cleared to pitch, Hampton made a strong return, posting a 2.41 ERA over 18.2 innings with elite velocity and an improved changeup that complemented his sharp breaking ball. His brief but dominant outings reignited attention across the organization and among scouts who had projected him to reach Triple-A later in 2024 with a potential major-league debut in 2025. Analysts consistently ranked him among the top Yankees pitching prospects, highlighting his polish and composure despite limited innings.
2025 — Tommy John Surgery and Long-Term Faith
In February 2025, Hampton’s progression was halted when he underwent Tommy John surgery to repair a right elbow injury, sidelining him for the entire season. The Yankees nonetheless reinforced their commitment to his long-term development, adding him to the 40-man roster on November 18, 2025, to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. The move reflected both belief in his recovery and recognition of his ceiling as a future mid-to-top rotation arm once healthy.
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