Injured pitcher in Gray trade could eventually be A’s ace
MESA, Ariz. — Two blocks from Hohokam Stadium, a potentially major piece of the A’s future is making the slow, painstaking return from Tommy John surgery.
James Kaprielian, 24, is about two months away from pitching in games. If all goes well, by the end of the year the former Yankees first-round pick could be in Oakland’s rotation.
“That’s something the front office and the trainers and coaches will have to decide,” Kaprielian said at Fitch Park, the A’s minor-league facility. “I don’t know if they’ll give me the answer I want, but I feel confident in my ability to compete at that level.
“If I were to say I didn’t see myself at the end of the year that would be inaccurate; at the same time, I’m not going to expect it. But that’s my goal: I’d love to be there in September and help this team win.”
Kaprielian (pronounced Kuh-PRILL-yin) is an unusual case: He was traded three months after Tommy John surgery, coming to Oakland with outfielder Dustin Fowler and infielder Jorge Mateo in the Sonny Gray deal. A’s executives emphasized that there would have been no way to acquire such a major talent unless he’d been injured — but it also put
Kaprielian in a strange spot. Mid-rehab, he had to change organizations, medical staffs, facilities, routines.
Kaprielian had also grown up a Yankees fan in Southern California — his youth league teams were the Yankees and Derek Jeter always was his role model — and he’d been able to get to know Jeter and Andy Pettitte at the Yankees’ bigleague camp. Kaprielian loved being a part of the organization, where he was a rising star.
“It was difficult, tough to be honest,” he said. “I was with a bunch of great guys, great young talent and we had talked about the future and what we wanted to build there. I had got the idea I was part of that; they had great things to say about me and it went both ways, I have nothing but good things to say about them. But I understand the move and why they had to do it: Sonny Gray is a great pitcher and they had a shot at the World Series.
“These are both great organizations, winning history on both sides, but when you get traded, there are all sorts of emotions. Yeah, you’re wanted by another organization, which is unbelievable — ‘Another team has me in their plans!’ But at the same time, you feel abandoned and like everything you’ve worked for and strived for, you have to start all over.”
A’s minor-league pitching coordinator Gil Patterson was with the Yankees in 2015 when Kaprielian was the 16th pick in the draft out of UCLA, less than a year after Kaprielian’s mother, Barbara, died of breast cancer. Patterson knew when the A’s acquired Kaprielian that he could handle the hurdles of coming to a new team mid-rehab.
“When he first got to the Yankees, his mother’s influence was such a driving force, and it speaks volumes about him,” Patterson said. “I’m sure the trade was a little mini-shock because the Yankees thought he was going to be their Sonny Gray. But any transition, James is strong enough to deal with.”
Daulton Jefferies has been a big help. The former Cal pitcher, Oakland’s second pick in 2016, had Tommy John surgery the same week as Kaprielian, and the two throw bullpen sessions, get treatment and work out together at Fitch Park. In addition, Kaprielian also worked out extensively with A’s third baseman Matt Chapman during the winter, when the two were roommates.
Assuming Kaprielian comes back at full strength, the A’s have a potential No. 1 or 2 starter to go with A.J. Puk. Kaprielian is 6-foot-4, he throws in the mid-90s and he has a good curveball to go with an aboveaverage slider and a changeup.
“The people here so far haven’t seen what he can do — I have,” Patterson said. “He’s special.”
“Optimistically, his majorleague comparable would be Jake Arrieta from a physical presence, poise, stuff and natural glare standpoint,” assistant general manager Billy Owens said. “We’re excited to see him compete after his rehab. His ceiling is enormous.”
In two years, the A’s rotation could feature Puk, Kaprielian, Grant Holmes, Logan Shore and Jefferies, with Jesus Luzardo waiting in the wings. For a team that currently has rotation concerns, that’s a fun thought, and Kaprielian is ready to go.
“I’m itching for sure and anyone could tell you that. I feel caged up for sure,” he said. “It’s definitely different than what I expected a few years ago because there was so much talk early about being able to get there so quick. I don’t know, maybe I let that get to my head a little too much — but injuries happen. The road is just a little different. Obstacles get in the way.
“The Yankees felt like a perfect fit ... but this might be a better fit. And I’m excited to be here in green and gold.”