Kaprielian Writing Himself into A's Future

A one-time first-round draft pick of the Yankees, James Kaprielian looks to give Athletics a starting pitching option now that his health problems are behind him.

Given that he was a first-round pick of the New York Yankees half a decade ago, right-handed pitcher James Kaprielian probably figured he’d be in someone’s starting rotation by now.

He came as the 16 pick in the draft that year out of UCLA with a 2.06 career ERA and 275 strikeouts in 252.2 career innings. He arrived with a big right-arm that showed tons of promise.

It hasn’t worked out the way anyone thought it would. To be sure, Kaprielian is on the 40-man roster of the Oakland A’s, but he still a prospect. He’s not going to make the opening day roster, but at 25 he’s at the point where he could help the A’s later in the season.

So Kaprielian is working on his game and waiting for his moment. He pitched two days ago, throwing a scoreless seventh inning before allowing three runs in the eighth, thanks in large part to an inside-the-park homer from the Reds’ Andy Sugilio.

Along the way, he says he feels like he’s fitting in wearing the green-and-gold.

“Me, being in the position I’m in, everyone does a really good job of making everyone feel very comfortable and welcome,” Kaprielian said. “You can tell it starts from the top all the way down. It’s really a good clubhouse to be in and everyone here is good people, so it’s exciting.”

Kaprielian’s story is not a new one. He’s missed parts of three seasons – half of 2016 and all of 2017 and 2018 while recuperating from Tommy John surgery. He was already injured when the A’s traded for him as part of the Sonny Gray package in 2017. It was difficult for anyone to project how much of an impact pitched Kaprielian could have coming back, or even if he’d be able to make it all the way back.

What he needed more than anything was a season of pitching where the specter of his health history wasn’t hanging over him. That came last year when, beginning in May, he resumed going to the mound.

There were struggles early on, including a 4.41 ERA at Class-A Stockton, but the club saw enough for a promotion, and that promotion was rewarded. Kaprielian had seven appearances (five starts) for Double-A Midland, then ended the year with one start at Triple-A Las Vegas. The last two stops showed he was close to regaining his old self, posting a 1.71 ERA in those eight games.

He was on an innings limit in 2019, and it seems likely there will be some kind of restrictions this season after he averaged fewer than four innings per outing last year. Oakland wants to build him up to between five and seven innings, but that can only come over time.

“I want to continue to do my job every chance I can,” Kaprielian said. “The name of the game is to get outs and (I will) do whatever I can to earn that (roster) spot wherever that is. (I want to do whatever I can) to help this team and to contribute.”