Yankees remove former top prospect Chase Hampton from 40-man roster

The New York Yankees have designated right-hander Chase Hampton for assignment, creating space on the 40-man roster for Aaron Judge. Hampton, a 2022 sixth-round pick, quickly rose to a top-100 prospect, earning rankings of 56th by Baseball Prospectus, 72nd by Baseball America and 92nd by MLB Pipeline after a 3.63 ERA in 2023. Injuries derailed his progress, beginning with a flexor strain in spring training and culminating in Tommy John surgery after a second strain in 2025. Despite a brief 2.89 ERA in limited 2024 action, his 2025 performance fell to an 8.18 ERA over 17 games, including a 9.84 ERA in Double-A. Manager Aaron Boone noted his talent remains but the setbacks have cost him a roster spot, potentially ending his major-league aspirations.