Yankees Prospect Carlos Lagrange Impresses with 102 MPH Fastball

Boone wants Lagrange to focus on starting, but doesn't rule out bullpen role later in season

Mar. 12, 2026 at 3:27am

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The Yankees are impressed with 22-year-old pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange and his 102 mph fastball, but manager Aaron Boone wants the right-hander to focus on starting for now. Boone said Lagrange could eventually factor into the Yankees' bullpen later in the season if the need arises, but the team wants to build up his workload and see if he can be an impactful starting pitcher.

Why it matters

Lagrange's development is an important part of the Yankees' long-term pitching plans. With his elite velocity, he has the potential to be a dominant starter or reliever at the major league level. The Yankees are taking a patient approach to ensure they maximize his upside, rather than rushing him to fill an immediate need in the bullpen.

The details

Lagrange, a 6-foot-7 right-hander, threw four no-hit innings with three strikeouts in his latest outing, consistently hitting triple digits on the radar gun. The Yankees want to build up his workload after he threw 120 innings between High-A and Double-A last season. Boone said the team will evaluate Lagrange's progress as a starter and consider moving him to the bullpen if the need arises later in the year.

  • Lagrange threw four no-hit innings with three strikeouts in the Yankees' 8-1 win over the Blue Jays on Wednesday.

The players

Carlos Lagrange

A 22-year-old right-handed pitching prospect in the Yankees' system who can reach 102 mph with his fastball.

Aaron Boone

The manager of the New York Yankees.

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What they’re saying

“I think you want to find out and dream on his biggest upside [being an] impactful starting pitcher. There's no denying he could be good out of the pen, but we're certainly not gonna rush him to fill a need — especially early on, but as he logs some innings and it becomes a real need at some point, I think anything is possible.”

— Aaron Boone, Manager

“This is all we've seen. Really, really excellent.”

— Aaron Boone, Manager

What’s next

The Yankees will continue to monitor Lagrange's progress as a starter in the minor leagues. If he continues to dominate and the major league team has a need in the bullpen later in the season, Boone said the team would consider bringing Lagrange up to pitch in relief.

The takeaway

The Yankees are taking a patient approach with their top pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange, prioritizing his development as a starter despite his electric stuff that could also play in the bullpen. This reflects the organization's commitment to building a sustainable, homegrown rotation rather than rushing prospects to fill short-term needs.