Yankees Prospect Update: Carlos Lagrange return, Wilberson De Peña, surging lefties

The New York Yankees' trade deadline needs have shifted repeatedly throughout the year. The only thing they can really be thankful for is that a few of their on-the-fly injury issues managed to crop up with time still on the clock to account for midseason additions. That includes Cody Bellinger, increasing the need for a viable outfield bat, and right-hander Carlos Lagrange, who was thought to be a potential midseason bullpen call-up. Instead, the Yankees will have to find that added swing-and-miss elsewhere.

At the very least, Lagrange's lengthy buildup process from the shoulder issue he suffered at the start of July has officially begun. The flamethrower was spotted tossing at the team's complex on Tuesday, posting the video with the caption, "Primero Dios" — first day.

Lagrange's injury somewhat unsurprisingly coincided with the Yankees' attempt to change his throwing schedule around and get him acclimated to the shorter turnaround time necessary in a regular bullpen role. We may never know when he first felt pain, but we do know his final outing only lasted 2/3 of an inning, as he allowed four hits, two walks, and five earned runs. That raised his ERA from 3.88 to 4.55 in one fell swoop.

Yankees prospects promoted up the pipeline include Wilberson De Pena and Jackson Lovich

The Yankees also took care of a lot of internal maintenance this week, providing well-earned promotions to a number of their hottest bats at the lower level.

Wilberson De Peña, the slugging return in last summer's Oswald Peraza trade, will get a chance at full-season Tampa after taking aim at the Florida Complex League. The 19-year-old hit .358 with 16 home runs and 67 RBI in 226 at-bats at the level.

Infielder Jackson Lovich is moving up from Tampa to Hudson Valley after smoking the level to the tune of 18 homers, 21 steals, and an .859 OPS. The late-rounder out of Missouri will get a High-A showcase for his troubles.

Perhaps one promotion, more than any other, tipped the Yankees' hand about their internal enthusiasm. Outfielder Yostin Peña, just 18 years old, was aggressively moved up from the Dominican Summer League to the Tampa Tarpons after hitting .375 with an 1.103 OPS this summer. It's a disruptive move for most, but the Yankees clearly believe Peña can handle it.

De Peña, under the microscope, socked a home run on the very first pitch of his first Low-A at-bat; Peña tripled in his.

Yankees lefties reach impressive tier as summer breakout continues

As compiled by Tobey Schulman, there are only two qualified minor-league lefties with ERAs under 2.00 and a strikeout percentage over 35% since June 1. They both happen to be in the Yankees' system.

That'd be Henry Lalane, who's scorched his way back into Top 100 consideration after three silent seasons, and Xavier Rivas, lurking at the back end of the team's Top 30 ready to potentially make an MLB impact sooner than you thought with his wicked changeup.

Will both of these men still be Yankees by next week? They've given rival teams plenty to think about, and both qualify as more than just trade sweeteners, at this point.

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