Yankees’ Pitchers Show Mixed Results in Grapefruit League

In Fort Myers, Florida, the early days of spring training are revealing different approaches among the Yankees’ pitchers. Some, like Lewis Gil, are gradually ramping up their speed, while others, like Carlos LaGrange, are already taking charge.

LaGrange delivered an eye-catching performance in Friday’s second Grapefruit League game, averaging a fastball speed of 160.1 mph. He proved dominant, pitching three innings of shutout baseball against a mostly regular lineup from the Twins, showcasing his potential as a top prospect for the Yankees.

At just 22 years old, LaGrange forced several swings and misses from the Twins, recording nine whiffs and four strikeouts on only 41 pitches. In fact, he was pitching so well that he eventually had to head to the bullpen to keep throwing.

“What I’m happy about with Carlos is that everything is coming together,” said Yankees manager Aaron Boone following the game. “His fastball, slider, and changeup look great, and he was throwing strikes effectively.”

There’s a lot of excitement about LaGrange’s potential. Some in the scouting community worry about his command, suggesting he might ultimately find a home in the bullpen. Still, if he can build on this momentum and improve his consistency, who knows? He might just become a starting pitcher for the long haul.

On the other hand, it was a rough outing for Gil, who struggled with his command. He threw 52 pitches but could only get through 2.1 innings. He battled through a series of lengthy at-bats, which raised his pitch count significantly. Despite this, he returned to the mound in the third inning briefly for two quick outs.

Interestingly, Gil did record a couple of impressive fastballs during his outing, clocking in at 96.5 mph and 96.7 mph, though his overall velocity average was still a bit below expectations. He allowed a home run to Trevor Larnach after a 94.5 mph pitch found its way down the middle.

“I think this is all just part of the spring training development,” Gil commented through an interpreter. “I’m working on building up each outing. By my third or fourth start, I hope to be more consistent with my velocity.”

Boone sees promise in Gil as well. He believes that with continued practice, he can find the comfort he needs in his mechanics. “The key is getting comfortable with his throwing motion. Once that happens, we’ll see the velocity and afterwards, those swing-and-misses will start coming back,” he explained.

As the spring training progresses, it will be interesting to see how both pitchers continue to develop. Each outing is crucial, and there’s potential for growth on both sides.