NEW YORK, New York — Just hours after the Washington Nationals decided to remove a young pitcher from their roster, a name that once carried significant expectations in the Bronx has once again become a notable topic surrounding the New York Yankees.
The 25-year-old pitcher was once considered one of the most promising arms in the Yankees’ system before an elbow injury interrupted his path toward the major leagues.
The Nationals’ decision to part ways with him opens the possibility that the Yankees could consider a reunion with a player their development staff in New York knows extremely well.
That player is Chase Hampton, the former Yankees top pitching prospect who was once ranked by MLB Pipeline ahead of Cam Schlittler in the organization’s prospect system.
Hampton spent an important part of his development with the Yankees and was once expected to have an opportunity to compete for a spot in the club’s future starting rotation.
But those plans changed when an injury forced the right-handed pitcher to undergo Tommy John surgery in February 2025.
He did not return to game action until May 2026 and struggled as he attempted to regain his feel on the mound.
Across 17 appearances at three Minor League levels this season, Hampton posted an 8.18 ERA, numbers significantly below the expectations surrounding him before the injury.
His velocity has not fully returned, either. A fastball that once reached approximately 97 mph has mostly sat between 92 and 94 mph.
However, Hampton is still only 25 years old, and his slider around 80 mph is still viewed as a potentially effective weapon.
The Yankees ultimately removed him from the roster on September 7 before the Nationals acquired the pitcher five days later.
Hampton did not even have an opportunity to appear in a Minor League game for Washington before the Nationals also removed him from their roster.
In a potential reunion scenario, Hampton expressed his desire to return to the place where his professional journey once carried so much promise.
“New York has always meant something special to me. If the Yankees give me an opportunity to come back, I’ll give everything I have. I know I still have a lot to prove. I want to fight alongside the people who believed in me and do whatever I can to help the Yankees reach the World Series.”
A return would not guarantee Hampton a place in the rotation, particularly with the Yankees’ system currently featuring several notable pitching prospects.
New York could also consider moving him to the bullpen in an effort to maximize his slider while finding a way to help his fastball regain velocity.
The appeal lies in the fact that the Yankees already have a strong understanding of Hampton’s mechanics, injury history, and development.
It could become a relatively low-risk reclamation project if New York believes his struggles in 2026 were primarily the result of his recovery from Tommy John surgery.
From a prospect who once ranked ahead of Schlittler to a pitcher now searching for another opportunity, Hampton must begin the process of proving his value all over again.
And if the door to the Bronx truly opens for him once more, Hampton will have an opportunity to continue his unfinished story with the Yankees, this time with the ultimate goal of turning his World Series promise into motivation for his comeback.
