Things could not have gone better for rehabbing Yankees minor league pitcher James Kaprielian in his first career Arizona Fall League start. Even after losing just under six months to an elbow injury, the team’s 2015 first rounder picked up right where he left off, showing almost no rust in the Scottsdale Scorpions home opener, a 6-4 loss to the Salt River Rafters.
Kaprielian pitched three scoreless innings for the Scorpions, allowing just one hit and no walks while striking out six. Josh Norris of Baseball America reported that Kaprielian’s fastball was sitting at 95-97 mph, while his slider was 87-90, and curve 83.