TAMPA — Last spring, Carlos Lagrange’s only taste of the spotlight came in a showcase for prospects.
This spring, the hard-throwing 22-year-old will get a chance to show the Yankees up close and personal why he’s been climbing onto many of those Top 100 prospect lists.
Lagrange is a few days into his first big league camp and, judging by his first bullpen session Saturday, there will be plenty of eyes on him while he’s here.
A 6-foot-4 frame with a big arm that can reach triple digits will do that.
“We’re excited about him for a good reason,” manager Aaron Boone said. “His size definitely stands out. But just the descent that he makes with obviously a huge fastball, really good changeups and then the slider and the sweeper. For him, it’s just a matter of getting better and better at command and hitting.
“And also just one of those kids out there that you get really good makeup reports on. He’s a leader, he takes initiative. He has a lot of intangibles and obviously a lot of talent.”
Lagrange is coming off a big year in terms of his development, as he stayed healthy and pitched to a 3.53 ERA with 168 strikeouts over 120 innings across High-A and Double-A.
The right-hander also made some strides with his command, which has been his bugaboo (and remains a work in progress) since the Yankees signed him as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic.
He walked just 12 in 41 ²/₃ innings at High-A before walking 50 in 78 ¹/₃ innings at Double-A.
The Yankees want to give him every opportunity to remain a starter, although some scouts believe he will eventually end up in the bullpen, where he could also make a more immediate impact in The Bronx – perhaps as soon as this season.
“I want to show that I can compete,” Lagrange said. “Try to help my teammates and the team, do what they want.”
General manager Brian Cashman has mentioned Lagrange (among others, including fellow ace Elmer Rodríguez) several times when talking about the pitching depth the Yankees have that could help fill spots in the bullpen.
When asked specifically on Friday whether he would be comfortable with Lagrange or Rodriguez taking on a substitute role this season, he did not rule it out.
“It’s easy to always say you want to keep guys in the starting rotation and in turn stay and have depth and continue their journey of building innings as they develop, but at the same time you have to rob Peter to pay Paul every now and then and do that balancing act where you have to serve the major league club,” Cashman said. “Many Major League starters also historically break away when they get their feet wet.”
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