Sarasota, Fla. – The problems weren't over yet, but there was a huge smile on Carlos Lagrange's face.
The Yankees pitching prospect had just finished four starts in a spring breakout game against the Orioles' top prospect, during which he consistently unleashed 100 and 101-mile fastballs on the stadium radar gun.
Certainly, was there some extra adrenaline that helped him maintain that speed in the course of his outing?
“I feel really good, but I always throw this velo,” Lagrange said through his broad smile at Ed Smith Stadium on Saturday night.
The 21-year-old right-hander, measured at 6 feet 6, flashed his potential throughout the start, walking twice, allowing two hits and two runs (one unearned).
One run came in the first inning in the first inning after Enriquet Bloodfield Jr. singled, first placed third on Lagrange's wild pick-off throw, then scored on the wild pitch before coming in the first inning.
However, Lagrange settled down, retiring 12 of the next 13 batters he faced, finishing the four innings by hitting 101 mph on the final pitch of the night.
“This was a huge opportunity for me,” Lagrange said through an interpreter. “It made a lot of sense. It was an opportunity to prove to myself and everyone else that I am a good pitcher and that I can throw a strike.”
Lagrange, who joined Baseball America's No. 15 as the organization's No. 19 lead this season by MLB.com, signed in 2022 for $10,000 from the Yankees and the Dominican Republic.
His biggest hurdles since then were health and commander. He missed time with the back issue last season, but returned to the pitch in the Arizona Fall League. There he spent 2.08 ERA in five games, but walked 15 and scored 10 in eight innings.
In 95 innings of his professional career, Lagrange hit 133, but walked 63.
His ability to consistently throw strikes may determine how far he can gain. But at least on Saturday he did it often enough with a triple girder heater – he said he first reached 100 as a 19-year-old – and a bite slider.
“I just had a small problem [last season]But this year I feel better,” Lagrange said. “I feel ready.”
