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Naehring: If James Kaprielian healthy last year, would be in MLB

James Kaprielian has battled injuries recently, but it has not stopped Yankees VP of baseball operations Tim Naehring and Mets first base coach Tom Goodwin to rave about the prospect.

In a deep farm system, Kaprielian has asserted himself as a fireball pitcher who can nearly touch triple digits while commanding offspeed pitches. In the Arizona Fall League, he touched 97 MPH, which is right where he was at before the injury to his flexor tendon. This furthers the notion the right-hander could have been Major League ready sooner than many thought.

Naehring said the 2015 first round pick would have been in the majors if he was not injured.