Flamethrowing Yankees prospect moves into Top 100 (but not the one you'd think)

When the Boston Red Sox moved catcher Kyle Teel to the Chicago White Sox, Yankees fans hoped that the resulting void behind the plate would doom Boston permanently. Nope! Unfortunately, they've prospered and thrived thanks to a former Yankee, Carlos Narvaez.

After months of waiting, though, Teel finally did some good for the Bombers on Monday night, passing the threshold of MLB at-bats necessary to be eliminated from MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list and handing the torch to the Human Torch in pinstripes.

Carlos Lagrange, an unholy concoction of size (6'7"), arm strength (102 mph maximum velocity), and swagger, has opened eyes at Double-A Somerset this year (and not just those of batters in fright, desperately trying to duck out of the way of his riding fastball).

Is Lagrange a starter? A reliever? Something in between? Someone who must harness his command if he's ever going to hit his substantial ceiling (22 walks in 35 2/3 innings with Somerset)?

Whether Lagrange's future is in the Bronx or as a deadline trade chip, he's just leveled up in pedigree, cracking MLB Pipeline's Top 100 in the final spot. And guess what? Cam Schlittler, who's got the 100+ mph heater, better command, and has already cracked the majors, is somehow not listed. In what feels like a one-on-one competition, Pipeline picked the fiery Lagrange. Very interesting.

Yankees' Carlos Lagrange cracks MLB Pipeline Top 100 prospects

Lagrange's breakout season began in the Spring Breakout game, when he first fired his ridiculous fastballs in some semblance of the national spotlight. Prospect heads have had their eyes on Lagrange for quite a while, though the consensus was always that tall lefty Henry Lalane would find the right formula first.

Though Lalane still remains highly thought-of in certain circles (10th on Pipeline's team-specific list), Lagrange has clicked first, striking out 113 men in 77 1/3 frames this season. Nearly unhittable.

Until their midseason re-rank, MLB Pipeline didn't even see Lagrange vs. Schlittler as a close race; Schlittler was 11th on their Yankees top 30, ranked eighth among their pitchers (behind Lalane and, surprisingly, the injured Chase Hampton). Now, after this week's shuffle, Schlittler is just behind Lagrange, but couldn't crack the league-wide list. Hopefully, this represents an embarrassment of riches, especially after a trade deadline where the Yankees were able to retain their top seven prospects - including Lagrange.