Getty
The New York Yankees have an intriguing pitching prospect this spring that is turning heads.
The New York Yankees are coming off of a disappointing finish to the 2025 season. They won 94 games and were a Wild Card team, but ultimately were knocked out in the American League Division Series by the Toronto Blue Jays.
They’ll look to make a deeper postseason run in 2026, but there are some interesting storylines to follow in spring training. Right-hander Carlos Lagrange has performed well for the Bronx Bombers.
Bryan Hoch of MLB.com named him the one player that has made a big impression for the Yankees at spring camp.
“You know you’re making a good impression when even Gerrit Cole — a Cy Young winner and six-time All-Star — says he’s ‘never seen anything like it,’” Hoch wrote.
“That was just part of the praise Cole heaped on the 22-year-old Lagrange, who checks in as the Yankees’ No. 2 prospect. The right-hander has routinely hit triple-digits this spring, topping out at 103.1 mph in Grapefruit League play.”
Carlos Lagrange Making ‘Big Impact’ for Yankees
Lagrange has made just one start this spring, but has also made two relief appearances. In his three outings, he has a win and has posted a 0.93 ERA. He was a non-roster invitee for spring training, but it may not be too much longer before the Yankees call him up to the major leagues.
With Cole out to start the season as he recovers from last year’s Tommy John surgery, the Yankees may have a hole at some point. They’ll need to be careful not to rush Lagrange to the majors, especially since he hasn’t pitched at the Triple-A level just yet.
Still, there is a lot to be excited about with the young right-hander. He posted a 3.53 ERA last season and finished the year with Double-A Somerset.
As long as he can stay healthy, there is a lot to like with Lagrange. The Yankees have a lot of solid prospects in their system, and while Lagrange is still likely a year or two away, it shouldn’t be too much longer before he finds himself up with the major league club.
The Yankees have a lot of pitching depth after trading for Ryan Weathers and re-signing Ryan Yarbrough this offseason, but in case of an injury, they are fortunate to have Lagrange taking steps forward so quickly.
Yankees Might Have Something Special
If Cole likes what he is seeing from the 22-year-old right-hander, then there’s certainly a lot to look forward to in the future.
The Yankees signed him out of the Dominican Republic before the 2022 season. He led the minor leagues with 168 strikeouts in 120 innings last season. He brings swing-and-miss capability to the farm system and should have a bright future ahead of him.
It will be interesting to see what the Yankees have in him, but from early reads, the Yankees appear to have something special, which is a great sign for the future of the organization and should set them up well for success in the coming years as Lagrange continues to develop as a young pitcher.
Curt Bishop Curt Bishop is a freelance sports writer who has written for various outlets including Heavy Sports, Sports Illustrated, FanSided, The Sporting News, Newsweek and Yardbarker. His work entails mostly breaking and trending news with a concentration on Major League Baseball (MLB). Curt graduated from Maryville University of St. Louis with a bachelor’s degree in communications with a focus on emerging and new media, as well as a music minor. More about Curt Bishop
More Heavy on Yankees
Loading more stories