Yankees' Pitching Phenom Strikes Out Aaron Judge on 102.6 MPH Fastball

The 6-foot-7 prospect has a high-octane future ahead of him.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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The New York Yankees have a 22-year-old pitching prospect named Carlos Lagrange who stands at 6-foot-7 and recently struck out star slugger Aaron Judge on three pitches, with the final strike reaching 102.6 mph. Lagrange spent the 2025 season between High-A and Double-A, posting a 3.53 ERA with 12.6 strikeouts per nine innings, though he also walked too many batters.

Why it matters

Lagrange's overpowering stuff and size have drawn comparisons to former Yankees reliever Dellin Betances, and his ability to blow away a hitter like Judge has fans and the organization excited about his potential future in the big leagues.

The details

In an intra-squad workout, Lagrange struck out Judge on three pitches, with the final strike reaching an eye-popping 102.6 mph. The young righty spent the 2025 season splitting time between High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset, where he posted a 3.53 ERA and averaged 12.6 strikeouts per nine innings, though he also struggled with control, walking 5.2 batters per nine.

  • Lagrange struck out Judge during an intra-squad workout on February 16, 2026.
  • Lagrange spent the 2025 season between High-A and Double-A.

The players

Carlos Lagrange

A 22-year-old pitching prospect in the New York Yankees organization, standing at 6-foot-7 and known for his high-octane fastball that has drawn comparisons to former Yankees reliever Dellin Betances.

Aaron Judge

The star slugger for the New York Yankees, who was overpowered by Lagrange's 102.6 mph fastball during an intra-squad workout.

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What they’re saying

“Carlos Lagrange strikes out Aaron Judge on three pitches. Last one at 102.6 mph.”

— Bryan Hoch, Reporter (Twitter)

The takeaway

Lagrange's dominant performance against Judge has Yankees fans and the organization buzzing about the young pitcher's high-octane stuff and bright future. If he can harness his control issues, Lagrange could develop into a frontline starter or power reliever for the Yankees in the coming years.