​Hoping to be the franchise that finally extracts the
massive potential out of a former Top 100 prospect, the St. Louis Cardinals claimed
25-year-old right-handed pitcher Chase Hampton off waivers on Monday.Hampton was the No. 6-ranked prospect in the New York
Yankees Minor League system as recently as September of 2024 before tearing the
ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow on Feb. 19, 2025. Out of baseball
in 2025 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, Hampton pitched at Class-A,
High-A and Double-A in 2026 in the Yankees’ Minor League system. After going
0-6 with an 8.18 ERA, the Texas Tech University product was designated for assignment
by the Yankees on Sept. 7 and claimed five days later by the Washington
Nationals. When Washington needed the spot on its 40-man roster, Hampton was
designated for assignment by the Nats on Sept. 26 and claimed by the Cardinals
on Sept. 28.We have claimed RHP Chase Hampton off waivers from the Washington Nationals.Our 40-Player Roster now stands at 39. pic.twitter.com/zXrnrBYFan— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) September 28, 2026Hampton gives the Cardinals 39 players on their 40-man
roster as they head into the offseason. The Cardinals finished the season at 77-85
and in fourth place in the National League Central Division.Chaim Bloom Wants to Make Sure Cardinals Don’t Relax After 2026 StridesThe Cardinals also made several other moves on Monday to
clean up their roster as they head into the offseason. Catcher Jimmy Crooks,
reliever Ryan Fernandez, starting pitcher Richard Fitts, starting pitcher
Cooper Hjerpe, reliever Matt Svanson and starter Tekoah Roby were recalled from
being optioned to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds. Crooks, Fernandez and Svanson
helped Memphis reach the International League championship round where they
lost the three-game series to Rochester (Nats), 2-1. Slugging outfielder Joshua Baez, third baseman Blaze
Jordan, outfielder Everson Pereira and starting pitcher Hunter Dobbins were
reinstated from the Injured List. Baez, who set history on Aug. 15 by homering
in the first three at bats of his MLB career, ended the season on the sidelines
with an oblique strain. Pereira missed time after being hit on the back of the
left hand by a fastball, and Dobbins recently underwent Tommy John surgery to
repair the UCL in his right elbow.Chase Hampton is a solid lottery ticket pickup for the Cardinals. He struggled significantly in his first year back from Tommy John surgery, posting an 8.18 ERA across three levels, but the former Top 100 prospect still has multiple option years left and some intriguing traits.… pic.twitter.com/nhz38MdpJQ— Redbird Farmhands (@RedbirdFarmhand) September 28, 2026Hampton, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound right-hander, was a
sixth-round selection by the Yankees in the 2022 MLB Draft. He showed off his
enormous promise in 2023 by striking out 145 hitters in 106 2/3 innings of
work. He went into the 2024 season ranked No. 72 by Baseball
America, No. 92 by MLB Pip