New York Yankees prospect Carlos Lagrange will not throw for approximately six weeks due to a capsular strain in his right shoulder, a development that sidelines the hard-throwing right-hander well past the Aug. 3 trade deadline and alters the team's immediate plans for bullpen reinforcements.
Lagrange, 23, was in the process of being converted to a reliever for the remainder of the season, with the Yankees hoping he could provide a significant boost to their bullpen. The injury now puts that initiative on hold, potentially for the entire season. "It certainly alters our plans for the short term," manager Aaron Boone said.
Lagrange opened eyes in spring training with his consistent ability to throw 100 mph. While the Yankees continue to view him as a starter for the future, they had aimed to utilize his velocity in the bullpen this year. This transition began in early June, with the possibility of a second-half promotion to the majors.
His last outing was on Sunday with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he allowed five runs on four hits and two walks in just two-thirds of an inning. During that appearance, his fastball averaged 98.8 mph and reached 100.9 mph. This was Lagrange's seventh appearance as a reliever and his second time pitching on just two days' rest.
Boone acknowledged the possibility of a link between the reliever conversion and the shoulder issue but stated it was impossible to say for sure. "We were pretty disciplined and methodical with how we took him into that role. I feel like we were careful with it, but you never know for certain why [it] happens," Boone said.
The Yankees have been actively seeking bullpen help, with previous trade deadline acquisitions like Camilo Doval and Jake Bird proving to be disappointments. While David Bednar has been a solid closer, other potential options like Ryan Weathers are not currently available due to rotation needs. Furthermore, Luis Gil, another pitcher who could have potentially transitioned to the bullpen, is also on the injured list with a shoulder issue and is still a long way from being considered for major league duty.
This situation leaves the Yankees needing to acquire at least a pair of relievers before the trade deadline, a task that proved challenging last season.