James Kaprielian was considered to be one of the most advanced pitchers in the MLB draft. But what are the chances of him facing big league hitters this season?
The Yankees continued to follow their conservative, high-floor model in the 2015 draft, selecting UCLA ace James Kaprielian with the 16th overall pick. Kaprielian was considered to be a safe bet to grow into a middle of the rotation role, making up for a lack of elite velocity with a diverse arsenal of pitches. With the Short Season-A Staten Island Yankees, he experienced an uptick in velocity, and is said to have added 15 pound of muscle over the offseason, according to Brendan Kuty at NJ.