SARASOTA, Fla. — The query was not but completed, however an enormous grin had already damaged out on Carlos Lagrange’s face.
The Yankees’ pitching prospect had simply completed a four-inning begin within the Spring Breakout recreation in opposition to the Orioles’ prime prospects, throughout which he persistently unleashed a fastball that hit 100 and 101 mph on the stadium radar gun.
Absolutely there was some further adrenaline that helped him maintain that velocity over the course of his outing?
“I feel really good, but I throw this velo always,” Lagrange stated by way of his vast smile on Saturday night time at Ed Smith Stadium.
The 21-year-old right-hander, who measures in at 6-foot-6, flashed his potential throughout the beginning during which he struck out two, walked none and allowed two hits and two runs (one unearned).
One run got here on a wind-aided, inside-the-park house run whereas the opposite got here within the first inning after Enrique Bradfield Jr. singled, took third on Lagrange’s wild pickoff throw to first after which scored on a wild pitch.
However Lagrange settled in, retiring 12 of the subsequent 13 batters he confronted whereas hitting 101 mph on his last pitch of the night time to finish the fourth inning.
“This was a big, big opportunity for me,” Lagrange stated by way of an interpreter. “It meant a lot. It just was an opportunity to prove to myself and everybody else that I’m a good pitcher and I can throw strikes.”
Lagrange, who enters this season because the group’s No. 19 prospect by MLB.com and No. 15 by Baseball America, signed with the Yankees out of the Dominican Republic for $10,000 in 2022.
His largest hurdles since then have been well being and command. He missed time final season with a again problem, however got here again to pitch within the Arizona Fall League, the place he had a 2.08 ERA in 5 video games however walked 15 and struck out 10 in 8 ⅔ innings.
In 95 ⅔ innings in his professional profession, Lagrange has struck out 133 however walked 63.
His potential to throw strikes persistently might resolve simply how far he’ll get. However on Saturday at the least, he did so typically sufficient along with his triple-digit heater — which he stated first reached 100 as a 19-year-old — and a biting slider.
“I just had a minor problem [last season], but this year I feel good,” stated Lagrange, who will doubtless begin the season at Single-A Tampa. “I feel ready.”
