Yankees’ Carlos LaGrange Progressing from Shoulder Injury

CHICAGO — Carlos LaGrange is still a bit away from making a significant impact for the Yankees this season—as long as he’s not traded in the next week. However, there’s some good news regarding his recovery from a shoulder injury that might just keep those hopes alive.

The young pitcher, who was diagnosed with a right shoulder capsular sprain on July 3, has started throwing again after resting for about four weeks. This timeline is, interestingly, two weeks shorter than what the team had initially expected.

At just 23 years old, LaGrange was in the process of shifting from a starting pitcher role to that of a relief pitcher, aiming to bolster the Yankees’ bullpen during the latter part of the season. While he still has quite a journey ahead in terms of readiness, his sooner-than-expected return to the mound opens up possibilities, at least for now.

Before the Yankees’ 3-2 victory over the White Sox on Tuesday, manager Aaron Boone was asked if he thought LaGrange could be in the mix at some point this season. He responded, “We’ll see.” He added, “He’s starting to throw again, so we can’t know for sure. We’ll have to pay attention to how his arm and body are responding and hopefully things will align as he continues his throwing. But right now, it’s tough to tell.”

On Tuesday, LaGrange shared a video of himself throwing on social media, but Boone mentioned that he had begun tossing the ball a few days prior. LaGrange’s last game in Triple-A was on June 28, just days before he learned about his shoulder injury.

The Yankees are likely looking to acquire a high-leverage reliever or two ahead of Monday’s trade deadline. If LaGrange isn’t included in any trade packages, his rehabilitation could be something to keep an eye on, as he might turn into a surprise asset later in the season.

One rumored target for the Yankees bullpen is Mason Miller, the standout closer from the Padres. Boone was asked what he thought about this fireballing right-hander, though it remains uncertain whether the Padres will consider parting with him.

“It feels like a speculative question with an opinion about the player hidden behind it,” Boone laughed. “Look, he’s definitely one of the top closers in the game and has been performing well over the last few seasons. I don’t even know if he’ll be moving around. He seems pretty solid in his current role.”

In other news, the Yankees signed veteran catcher Christian Bethancourt to a minor league contract on Tuesday, adding him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for depth. The 34-year-old has participated in 427 major league games and was with the Triple-A Cubs this season, where he posted a .262 average and a .775 OPS over 59 games.