The New York Yankees' 2012 first round draft pick was hospitalized over the holidays after he was assaulted in Oklahoma City. In Baltimore, the Orioles have added depth at the catcher position after Nick Hundley left for the Colorado Rockies.
Prospect pitcher Ty Hensley of the Yankees was seriously injured in an alleged "brutal attack", reports Chris Cotillo of SB Nation. Hensley's attorney, Rob Martin of ICON Sports, issued a statement on
Thursday morning and addressed the status of the 21-year-old.
"On behalf of Ty Hensley and his family, we are able to confirm that Ty was hospitalized after being brutally attacked and assaulted over the holidays in Oklahoma City.
Ty was treated and released from the hospital and is presently recovering at home from the injuries he sustained after being knocked unconscious in this vicious attack. Ty and his family are grateful for all of the support, thoughts, and prayers he's received from friends, fans, and well-wishers. We respectfully request privacy during this difficult time."
Hensley missed all of 2013 after undergoing hip surgery, but he rebounded well in 2014 and posted a 2.93 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 11 games (10 starts) between the Rookie Gulf Coast League and Class Short-Season A (Staten Island Yankees). As an 18-year-old in the Rookie Gulf Coast League, Hensley went 1-2 with a 3.00 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in five games (four starts).
As for others in the AL East, the Baltimore Orioles are finalizing a minor-league deal with catcher/first baseman J.P. Arencibia and it includes an invitation to spring training, according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. This signing comes shortly after the Orioles watched catcher Nick Hundley depart via free agency when he signed a two-year contract with the Colorado Rockies. Baltimore needs depth at the position because Matt Wieters' status for the beginning of 2015 is unknown after he underwent Tommy John surgery in June.
Arencibia, 29, spent 63 games with the Texas Rangers in 2014 after starting the season in the minors with the team. He slashed just .177/.239/.369 with 10 home runs and 35 RBIs. The former first round pick has good power numbers, having two 20-home run campaigns in his first three full MLB seasons. He owns a career stat line of .207/.255/.403 with 74 home runs and 228 RBIs in 443 games (five seasons).
UPDATE: The New York Daily News reports Hensley had his jaw broken by a football player after the two got into an argument over signing bonuses.
