Aaron Judge Praises Yankees' Top Pitching Prospect

The All-Star slugger was impressed by 22-year-old Carlos Lagrange's electric stuff in live batting practice.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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New York Yankees star Aaron Judge had high praise for the team's top pitching prospect, 22-year-old Carlos Lagrange, after facing him in live batting practice. Judge was impressed by Lagrange's 102.6 mph fastball and the presence he showed on the mound, even striking out Judge and fellow MVP Cody Bellinger.

Why it matters

Lagrange is considered one of the top pitching prospects in baseball, and his ability to dominate veteran hitters like Judge and Bellinger in spring training suggests he could make a big impact for the Yankees in the near future.

The details

During the Yankees' first full-squad workouts, Lagrange faced off against Judge and other star hitters. Videos showed Judge hitting a home run off Lagrange, but the young righty also struck out Judge on a 102.6 mph fastball. Judge praised Lagrange's electric stuff and presence on the mound, saying he "didn't care" about facing the Yankees' star-studded lineup.

  • The Yankees started full-squad workouts on Monday, February 17, 2026.

The players

Aaron Judge

A three-time MVP and one of the best hitters in baseball, currently playing for the New York Yankees.

Carlos Lagrange

A 22-year-old pitching prospect in the Yankees' organization, considered one of the top pitching prospects in baseball.

Cody Bellinger

A former MVP who also faced off against Lagrange in live batting practice.

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What they’re saying

“He's impressive. I've seen a lot of videos. I've heard a lot of stories about him over the years, from just kind of being in the organization. He's going to be special. You can look up at the radar and see 103 mph, but I think it's also just the presence he has on the mound. We set up some nasty lineups against him today, and he didn't care. He wanted to be out there, and he came right after us.”

— Aaron Judge (Newsweek)

The takeaway

Lagrange's dominant performance against established stars like Judge and Bellinger in spring training suggests the Yankees have a potential ace in the making, and his development will be closely watched as he looks to make the jump to the major leagues.