Yankees Prospect Carlos Lagrange Turns Heads with Electric Bullpen Session
TAMPA, Fla. - When a 6-foot-7 right-hander is throwing triple digits in mid-February, people take notice. And on Saturday, Carlos Lagrange didn’t just take the mound-he owned it.
The 22-year-old Dominican fireballer, ranked as the Yankees' No. 2 prospect by MLB Pipeline, delivered his first official bullpen of big-league spring training with a presence that was impossible to ignore. The sound of his fastball hitting the catcher’s mitt wasn’t just loud-it echoed. It was the kind of pop that makes heads turn, even in a camp full of elite arms.
Manager Aaron Boone had a front-row view behind the mounds at Steinbrenner Field and couldn’t help but smile. Lagrange, a non-roster invitee, looked every bit the part-not just because of the gold chain and Jesus medallion swinging around his neck, but because of the sheer power and polish he brought to the session.
“We’re excited about him for good reason,” Boone said. “His size obviously stands out. Just the downhill he creates with a huge fastball and really, really good changeup, and then the slider and the sweeper.”
That’s a full four-pitch mix Boone’s talking about, and it’s already giving hitters fits. Lagrange is coming off a strong 2025 campaign in the minors, where he posted a 3.53 ERA and racked up 168 strikeouts over 120 innings between High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset. He made just eight starts in Hudson Valley before the Yankees bumped him up to Somerset, where he continued to miss bats at an elite rate.
Boone, who knows a thing or two about uncomfortable at-bats, compared Lagrange’s angle and presence to former big-league righty Freddy Garcia-a guy who made hitters uneasy with his size and deceptive delivery.
“I just never liked the angle that [Garcia] was able to create,” Boone said. “Carlos has some of that.”
But Boone didn’t stop there. He later brought up a name Yankee fans know well: Dellin Betances.
The towering former All-Star reliever stood 6-foot-8, weighed in at 268 pounds, and used to light up radar guns with 100 mph heaters. The comparison wasn’t about mechanics or role-it was about the kind of swings Lagrange induces.
“You think back to when Dellin was at his best,” Boone said. “Dellin was taller and even a little different, but when he was on you’d just see some consistently really bad swings.”
Those ugly swings are already showing up against Lagrange. And while he’s likely to open the season in Triple-A, the buzz around him is real-and growing.
“It’s a big arm,” Boone said. “He’s gonna walk out there and throw 100 miles an hour and the changeup is really good. It’s a hard changeup, downward action on it.”
That changeup might be the most underrated part of his arsenal. It’s firm, with late movement, and it complements his high-octane fastball beautifully. For a pitcher his size, repeating mechanics can be a challenge, but Boone sees a young player already ahead of the curve.
“A big guy like that, it’s just about repeating the mechanics,” Boone said. “I think he does a pretty good job of that already as a young, young player. I think Carlos has a very bright future.”
MLB Pipeline’s scouting report backs that up. Lagrange signed for just $10,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2022, and within months he was touching the upper-90s in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League.
Now, he sits comfortably at 97-99 mph and has reportedly touched 102. His slider sits in the low-to-mid 80s with sweeping action, and he can morph it into a cutter when needed.
His changeup, now in the upper 80s, has improved significantly, showing depth and fade.
He throws from a low three-quarters slot, which gives hitters a tough look-especially with the flat approach angle he creates. While he’s not going to be a pinpoint control guy, his command is improving, and the raw stuff is undeniable. Whether he ends up as a frontline starter or a dominant late-inning weapon, the Yankees are optimistic about what he can become.
And Lagrange knows the fans are watching.
“I saw a lot of posts on Instagram and Twitter about me,” he said. “The fans are excited, but my focus is always doing my job and doing my best.”
That maturity is part of what’s made him stand out in camp. Boone praised his makeup just as much as his stuff.
“He’s just one of those kids that you just get really great makeup reports on,” Boone said. “He’s a leader, takes initiative. He’s got the intangibles as well as obviously a top talent.”
Lagrange, for his part, isn’t trying to be anything more than a good teammate. He’s already stepping into a mentorship role with younger players in the organization.
“Younger guys who come into the organization don’t know how to do certain things or maybe are getting adjusted,” he said. “If things have worked out for me, I’m able to share with them and hopefully it works out for them, too.”
Could we see Lagrange in the Bronx this season? It’s not out of the question.
Just last year, Cam Schlittler-another towering righty-jumped from Double-A to the postseason spotlight, delivering a legendary Wild Card start against Boston. If Lagrange keeps progressing at this pace, he could be next.
“I just want to show I can compete,” Lagrange said.
So far, he’s doing exactly that. And if Saturday’s bullpen was any indication, the Yankees might have something special on their hands.