Carlos Lagrange's latest tough start continued a brutal Yankees pattern

Über Yankees prospect Carlos Lagrange was the story of spring training, semi-effortlessly matching Mason Miller-esque velocity with big-league-ready poise and panache. While he didn't make the roster, he certainly captured the narrative, and with a bullpen void looming, conventional wisdom said he'd be the midsummer solution the Yankees were yearning for. Or maybe he'd be a spot starter? Either way, he was MLB-ready, and the biggest challenge ahead of the Yankees seemed to be making sure not to pigeonhole him in the 'pen without having a rotation contingency plan for 2027.

After his rumored demotion became official, though, things changed. Lagrange was suddenly flatter and more hittable in his exhibition finale against the Chicago Cubs, looking more like the "elite talent with issues to iron out" he'd been in 2025 instead of the total package that attacked work in Tampa with ferocity. He allowed eight runs in 2 2/3 innings in a 15-6 loss that hardly defined his camp, but seems to have bled into the regular season.

It must be tough knowing you've gone from the talk of big-league camp to (theoretically) wasting bullets in Triple-A after proving yourself. Who knows if that's really what's happening to Lagrange's subconscious or not?

Regardless, he continued a troubling pattern on Wednesday of bringing upper-echelon stuff without top-grade focus.

Yankees' Carlos Lagrange no longer looks like bullpen shoo-in with Triple-A boredom taking over

Still just 22 years old, Lagrage stumbled to the finish line on Wednesday, allowing three home runs to the WooSox to raise his season ERA to 4.76.

The weather's been bleak in the northeast, sure, but most starts tend to tell the same story. The pitch count's high; he's completed five innings only once. The WHIP isn't where you want it to be. The man is truly unhittable at his peak, but hasn't looked it much this April/May against inferior competition (though that inferior competition is probably begging for his location to slip so they can humble him a bit).

How does Lagrange get that "killer mindset" back after proving himself in the spotlght all spring long? And how can the Yankees bet on him right now before he's shown it, even if that confidence might be what he needs to reignite the spark?

Yovanny Cruz, far more of an unknown entering the season, may have the inside track to a middle relief opportunity given his early adjustments geared at keeping runners off base. Same for Rafael Montero, who finally overcame his visa issues to arrive in style in Scranton.

Lagrange certainly looks like he could use some veteran insight and a realignment. As of now, he's in a bigger rut than his talent would dictate.

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