3 players from Yankees' Spring Breakout showcase the American League should fear

Henry Lalane

But Selvidge's exit didn't mark the end of the impressive performances Saturday, as No. 9 prospect and Bronx native Henry Lalane relieved Selvidge with two innings of scoreless, three-strikeout work. Only 19, the lanky 6’7” southpaw is named after his dad, a former St. Francis and European professional basketball player.

Lalane moved back to the Dominican Republic as a youth, and was signed to a $350,000 bonus, the largest of any pitcher in the Yankees' 2020-21 international free agent signing class. He spent 2022 with the Yankees’ Dominican Summer League affiliate, and stood out last year as the best pitching prospect in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League.

He made eight appearances in the FCL, including five starts, with 34 strikeouts against only four walks in 21.2 innings. He’s got ‘swing-and-miss’ stuff that he pounds the strike zone with, to go with solid command, as evidenced by a WHIP of 0.97 and batting average against of only .207.

The scouting report gives him a 60-grade on a fastball “that sits at 93-95 mph and reaches 97 with plus arm-side run and carry up in the zone. He already demonstrates advanced feel for a fading mid-80s changeup that's his more reliable secondary offering at this point… He'll need time to develop but has a huge ceiling as a potential frontline starter.“

With exceptional young talents like Jones, Selvidge and Lalane working their way up the farm system ranks, the future is bright for the Yankees. Dominant performances like we saw Saturday in the Spring Breakout game should strike fear in front offices across the American League.