Pair of Yankees pitching prospects just got well-deserved bump closer to MLB

Tuesday proved to be an incredibly busy day in in the Yankees farm, as several pinstriped prospects earned promotions throughout the system. Several top 30 prospects like Roc Riggio (NYY No. 24) and Brendan Jones (NYY No. 29) got the call that they were making it one step closer to the Bronx, but the headliners of Tuesday's minor league shuffle are undoubtedly Cam Schlittler and Carlos Lagrange, two of the Yankees' top 10 pitching prospects.

Schlittler, a 24 year old RHP whom the Yankees drafted back in the seventh round in 2022, is getting the call to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after posting ridiculous numbers with Double-A Somerset.

The former Northeastern husky, who Yankees fans saw a glimpse of in spring training this year, currently has an ERA of 2.38 across nine starts and 53.0 innings with the Patriots, striking out 64 batters. Perhaps the most impressive part about Schlittler's season so far is the extraordinary extent to which he has limited his opponents' slugging, as he has only surrendered one home run all year. That is absurd.

Schlittler is an extremely physical pitcher who leverages every ounce of his 6'6", 225-pound frame to get extension and power behind the baseball. His fastball has a lot of life and averages 93-94 MPH, but he has touched the upper 90s this year, flashing 98 at one point. He also utilizes a cutter, curveball, and changeup as secondary offerings.

A big story for the now 10th-ranked Yankee prospect this season has been the development of what used to be a gyro slider into a true cutter, a pitch the Yankees pitching staff has grown to love in recent years.

His curveball and changeup are both plus pitches, and he has gotten better at controlling them as his professional career has gone on. He has experimented with other pitches sporadically throughout his tenure with the Yankees, but these are the four quality pitches that Matt Blake and Co. seem to think best suit him at this moment in time.

A lot of eyes are on Schlittler to start making an impact at the big-league level as early as this season. Right now he is viewed as the Yankees pitching prospect closest to being big-league ready, especially after seventh-ranked prospect Chase Hampton had to have Tommy John in spring of this year.

Schlittler first has to prove himself against competition at the Triple-A level, so we will all have to wait and see how one of the Yankees ' prized young arms continues to develop.

Two of the Yankees' most promising young arms earn minor league promotion in Cam Schlittler and Carlos Lagrange

With Schlittler heading to Scranton, Double-A Somerset needs a new pitcher. That spot has been taken by the young fireballer Carlos Lagrange, a 22-year-old whom the Yankees signed out of the Dominican Republic back in 2022 for only $10,000 dollars. With the way things are trending for the young right-hander now, that looks like one of the greatest steals in recent memory.

Lagrange, currently ranked the 17th overall prospect in the system, possesses one of, if not the best, fastball in the Yankees system and maybe in the entire minor leagues. MLB has it as a 70-grade pitch, as his heater sits in the upper 90s and regularly eclipses triple digits. The ball leaves his hand like it has its own will, spinning, riding, and cutting in every which way as it erupts away from the mound. He also throws a nasty sweeper which sits in the low 80s, as well as an upper-80s cutter. He has tinkered with a changeup, but nothing has quite stuck in that regard. He is primarily a three-pitch pitcher.

Lagrange has always had electric stuff, but had struggled to locate his pitches prior to this season. Thankfully, he seems to have turned a corner in that regard. His control is still far from sharp, but he has only walked 12 batters in 41.0 innings this year, a vast improvement from his 20 walks in 21.0 innings last year.

He made eight starts for High-A Hudson Valley in 2025, posting an ERA of 4.10. The ERA is slightly higher than one would like, but that is in large part due to two bad starts. Other than that, he has been very good. His strikeout numbers have been as jaw-dropping as ever, as he has fanned 64 in 41 innings.

I had the pleasure of watching Lagrange pitch in the Arizona Fall League last October, and he is truly one of the most unique pitchers I have seen in person. Standing at 6'7" and 195 pounds, he is a limb-dominant pitcher who comes at you with straight God-given talent.

Tall, lanky pitchers like Lagrange tend to create great extension down the mound and throw almost on top of the hitter, but he is an anomaly. His extension is considered average, and he throws from an arm slot slightly below 3/4. Even with that, his stuff is just disgusting, and he is a true sight to behold.

Pitching for the Salt River Rafters, the youngster lit up the radar gun, pumping 99 MPH heater after 99 MPH heater - then boom, 100 MPH. 101 MPH. 97 MPH. It was nothing but straight power from the Dominican flamethrower, as he just mowed down hitters with the gas.

While electrifying to watch in person, it was clear Lagrange had flaws. He put himself in some deep counts by getting behind early and relied almost exclusively on his fastball on the day I watched him. Sure, that might work in the Fall League, but that's not fooling experienced big league sluggers. He did walk a couple batters and came apart when they were on base, as I remember him balking twice, bringing in a run. You could definitely tell he was inexperienced. However, he seems to have turned a corner this year, as his previously scattered-looking delivery now seems a little more polished and smooth, leading to better control over all of his offerings.

Lagrange has arguably the highest ceiling of not just any pitcher in the Yankees farm, but any player in the Yankees farm. He has been utilized as a starter throughout his time in the minor leagues, but I could also see him becoming a lockdown closer. Either way, he could be a centerpiece for the Yankees in the future.

Both Schlittler and Lagrange have earned these promotions and will look to prove themselves at their respective new levels as they vow to make it to the Bronx sooner rather than later.