Yankees prospect flashes triple-digit heater in Spring Breakout showcase

SARASOTA, Fla. — Triple-digit fastballs are nothing new for Yankees pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange.

He hit 100 mph for the first time when he was 19.

That didn’t stop the right-handed flamethrower from taking a few peeks out to right-center field at the Ed Smith Stadium scoreboard on Saturday night, checking the speed on his heater as he pitched the first four innings of Saturday’s Spring Breakout game against the Orioles.

His fastball touched 101 mph on the board.

It hit 100 mph a few more times.

Even if the radar gun was juiced by a tick or two — Statcast numbers aren’t available at Ed Smith Stadium to verify — that’s still some serious speed.

“I feel really good,” Lagrange said with a smile, sitting in front of his locker after his outing. “I throw this velo always!”

BUY YANKEES TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETMASTER

It took the right-hander a few batters to settle in. He gave up a run in the first after a single from Baltimore speedster Enrique Bradfield Jr. An errant throw to first allowed the leadoff man to scamper ahead to third and he scored moments later on a wild pitch.

But once Lagrange found his groove, the results followed. He finished up with four innings of two-run ball in the 5-4 walk-off loss, striking out two without a walk. Lagrange retired 12 of the last 13 batters he faced. In fact, after Bradfield Jr.’s trip around the bases in the first, Lagrange sat down the next 11 hitters he faced in a row.

“[Getting to start] was a big, big opportunity for me,” Lagrange said through an interpreter. “It meant a lot. It was an opportunity to prove to myself and to everybody else that I’m a good pitcher and I can throw strikes.”

Lagrange, who gives off a Luis Gil vibe on the mound with his lanky 6-foot-7 frame and high-octane (while sometimes wild) stuff, is ranked as the Yankees’ No. 15 prospect by Baseball America. He’s listed at No. 19 in the Yankees’ system by MLB Pipeline. This will be the 21-year-old’s fourth year with the Yankees — he signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2022 — but he still hasn’t had a full season with an affiliate. He reached Class-A Tampa for the first time this past season, but pitched only 14 1/3 innings there.

Asked what his goals are for this season, Lagrange needed only two words and he didn’t need a translator.

“Stay healthy,” he said.

If he can do that, and harness his command as his arsenal develops, the right-hander has a chance to make this a breakout year and climb even higher on the club’s prospect charts.

NOTABLE

— The Yankees had a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the ninth, but Bryce Cunningham — the club’s second-round pick in last summer’s draft — gave up two runs, including a walk-off RBI single from Orioles infielder Leandro Arias.

— Yankees 2024 first-rounder Ben Hess threw two innings of one-run ball in relief of Lagrange. He struck out three and gave up two hits. This was an unofficial pro debut for both Hess and Cunningham as both right-handers didn’t pitch with an affiliate after getting drafted last summer.

— Yankees top shortstop prospect George Lombard Jr. was 1-for-4 with a single, run scored, a walk and a strikeout. He looked silky smooth on defense.

— Another top prospect Spencer Jones, who homered twice in last year’s Spring Breakout, was 1-for-2 with a double. He was hit by a pitch twice as well.

  • Yankees have 2 potential aces, a bulldog and a pitcher who throws ‘thunder’ debuting on farm this spring
  • Yankees top draft pick with ‘monster’ stuff impresses in pro debut
  • Here’s what already is brewing for Dave Sims & Suzyn Waldman, Yankees’ new radio team
  • Mets’ Clay Holmes faces first hurdle as a starting pitcher
  • Did Yankees’ big spring surprise just really hurt chance to make club?

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.

Max Goodman may be reached at [email protected].

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Related Posts

🚨 MLB INSIDE RESET: The White Sox’s newly assembled coaching staff is raising quiet but serious questions across the league, as subtle hires, shifted responsibilities, and a clear change in philosophy hint at a deeper organizational reset. What looks like routine restructuring on the surface may actually signal a long term plan that hasn’t been fully explained yet — and insiders believe the real impact will only become clear once the season pressure hits.

The Chicago White Sox have finalized their coaching staff for the 2026 season following sweeping changes made at the end of September.

🚨 MLB INSIDE TRADE RUMBLINGS: The Braves are suddenly being linked to a bold trade for a $6 million NL rival left hander, a move insiders say could quietly solve multiple problems at once and even position him as a long term heir to Chris Sale. What looks like a low risk deal on paper may actually hide a far bigger plan, with Atlanta reportedly intrigued by a dynamic arsenal that hasn’t fully been unlocked yet — and the timing of this rumor is raising serious eyebrows across the league.

The Braves could go after a young star.

🚨 MLB INSIDE STORM BREWING: As hopes of an Alex Bregman return quietly fade, a new projection suggests the Red Sox may be preparing a jaw dropping $186 million swing for Bo Bichette, a move insiders believe could redefine Boston’s future in one bold stroke. What once seemed unrealistic is now gaining traction behind the scenes, and if this prediction turns real, the ripple effect could shock the AL East and completely change how this offseason is remembered.

A former MLB executive now believes that the Boston Red Sox will land coveted free agent infielder Bo Bichette from Toronto.

🚨 MLB INSIDE WHISPERS: Something big is quietly brewing behind closed doors in New York, as new projections hint the Yankees may be lining up an elite shortstop signing that goes far beyond a normal free-agency move. What started as a low-key prediction is now being viewed as a potential power shift, with insiders suggesting this decision could redefine the Yankees’ identity and force the entire American League to adjust sooner than expected.

The New York Yankees haven’t done much during the offseason, but MLB rumors continue to swirl. New York has been […]

Cubs Predicted To Land Marquee Free Agent Starting Pitcher On Six-Year Contract

The Cubs are in the market for a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher, and David Schoenfield of ESPN predicted them to land Framber Valdez, previously of the Houston Astros.

🚨 INSIDE NFL REVELATION: The Packers reportedly had a stunning opportunity to sign an all time great for just $5 million, yet chose to walk away without even making a free agent offer — a quiet decision that is now raising serious questions inside the fanbase and league circles alike. What seemed insignificant at the time is suddenly being revisited as a potential turning point, with insiders suggesting this missed move could have changed far more than anyone realized.

Green Bay missed an opportunity.