Yankees' fireball rookie Lagrange dazzles with blazing speed, Cole exclaims: Never seen anything like it

Carlos Lagrange's triple-digit fastballs have been gathering an expanding fan club within the New York Yankees camp this spring training, and now that group includes a Cy Young Award winner—Gerrit Cole.

“It's absolutely ridiculous, I've never seen anything like that,” Cole said. “It's insane. Every time I see his velocity, I'm completely blown away.”

Cole and Lagrange (the Yankees' top pitching prospect as ranked by MLB Pipeline) took turns on the mound at Steinbrenner Field today for live batting practice, with Cole throwing two innings and Lagrange three.

The 22-year-old Lagrange grinned upon hearing Cole's remarks. “If that's how he views me,” Lagrange said, “that's fantastic.”

Cole, rehabbing from TJ surgery, impressed with his velocity touching 97 mph and sharper command than expected. Meanwhile, Lagrange was overpowering hitters with pure strength.

Lagrange repeatedly exceeded 100 mph today against the Minnesota Twins, including an inside high fastball that made Zack Short duck away, followed by a low-and-outside slider for a strikeout—Lagrange said that sequence was intentionally planned.

“He's young. I know,” Cole said. “This is his first big-league spring training, I understand. Manager Boone is there, star hitters are in the box. I know he's been training for a while and is in good shape. All those factors combined, I can see why this guy throws so fast.”

“All those factors support him throwing fireballs, but it's still astonishing. It looks like he isn't even exerting much effort, seems quite relaxed, considering I saw so many 101 mph pitches consecutively. I've probably thrown less than ten 101 mph pitches in my entire career, and I see him doing it every outing. And often, there's hardly anyone watching.”

As Cole spoke, he pointed toward the empty stadium. The stands were largely vacant during their session, with only about fifty people present, including a tour group.

“This isn't a tense situation like ‘bases loaded, two outs,’” Cole said. “Nor is it ‘you must get this hitter or the manager will come to pull you.’ It's just ‘oh, 101 mph.’ It's insane.”

When Jasson Domínguez first stepped into the batter's box against Lagrange, he said the at-bat was as legendary as described: “It's disgusting.”

“I tell you, I hadn't faced him before, but I didn't expect it like this,” Domínguez said. “I knew he threw hard, but his pitch movement, his delivery mechanics… he also has a slide-step, it's really great.”

“I got frozen by a backdoor slider, couldn't even swing. Then the next pitch was 102 mph, truly disgusting.”

Boone once compared Lagrange to a young Dellin Betances, and Domínguez also mentioned that comparison.

Based on what he saw today, Domínguez believes Lagrange can contribute in the majors this season. “I think he can be a great pitcher for our team,” Domínguez said. “He definitely can help the club. He's young, but I think his stuff is outstanding.”

Lagrange said he vividly remembers his first time exceeding 100 mph, at age 20 on a chain-link field in the Florida Complex League. “You put in so much work, and then immediately see the results, it feels amazing.”

Now, as Cole observed, throwing triple-digit fastballs has almost become routine for Lagrange. But the pitcher says that's not actually the case.

“I understand, it might look easy,” Lagrange said. “But the reality is, it's not easy. You need to maintain consistency in your mechanics, maintain aggressiveness, and also keep your mindset steady.”

Yankees GM Brian Cashman previously stated that this spring training would be an “Ivy League-level education” for Lagrange and right-hander Elmer Rodríguez, who is currently playing for Puerto Rico in the Classic.

So far, Lagrange says that's exactly true. “I've talked with Gerrit about pitch selection and execution. With Max Fried about pitch sequencing, pitcher fielding practice, and how to excel at those. Also with Ryan Weathers about his changeup, how to execute it, how to stay consistent.”

If he can absorb all these lessons, Lagrange might bring this show to the Bronx sooner than anticipated. “I think he'll be a big player for us,” Domínguez said. “From what I've seen, he definitely can do it this year.”