TAMPA

Last spring, Carlos LaGrange made a notable impression during a prospect showcase. Fast forward to this spring, and the 22-year-old pitcher is giving the Yankees a close-up look at why he’s making his way onto many top 100 prospect lists.

He’s a few days into his first major league camp, and after Saturday’s bullpen session, it’s clear he’ll be a focal point as long as he’s around.

Standing at 6-foot-7, his towering frame and ability to throw in the triple digits certainly command attention.

“We’re really excited about him, and rightfully so,” manager Aaron Boone remarked. “His size is definitely eye-catching. But it’s also about the downhill angle he generates with that huge fastball, along with a really effective changeup and variations of sliders. For him, it’s just about sharpening his command and ability to throw strikes consistently.”

LaGrange has just wrapped up a solid year, pitching a total of 120 innings in High-A and Double-A, achieving a 3.53 ERA along with 168 strikeouts. It’s worth noting that he seems to have made strides in his command, which has been a challenge for him since joining the Yankees as an international free agent from the Dominican Republic.

During his time in High-A, he recorded just 12 walks in 41¹/₃ innings, but struggled a bit in Double-A, walking 50 batters in 78¹/₃ innings.

While the Yankees hope to keep him in the starting rotation, some scouts suggest that he might find himself in the bullpen, perhaps making a quicker impact in the Bronx, even this season.

“I want to demonstrate that I can compete,” LaGrange expressed. “I aim to support my teammates and contribute to the team’s objectives.”

General manager Brian Cashman has mentioned LaGrange alongside other promising pitchers, including top prospect Elmer Rodriguez, when discussing the Yankees’ potential pitching depth for the bullpen.

When asked if he would be comfortable with either LaGrange or Rodriguez stepping into a relief role this season, Cashman didn’t dismiss that possibility.

“It’s easy to say you want to keep guys in their starting roles and let them develop while adding depth, but there’s also the need to make tough decisions that serve the major league team,” Cashman said. “Often, many major league starters start by breaking in through the bullpen.”