Overview
- In his Grapefruit League outing against the Tigers, LaGrange worked 2 2/3 innings with three hits, one earned run, two walks and two strikeouts, touching 102.4 mph while mixing a curveball and offspeed pitches.
- Observers measured roughly 18 inches of vertical life on a 100 mph four-seamer, a movement profile seldom found in starting pitchers.
- Aaron Judge said LaGrange has the potential to be a frontline starter and had previously been struck out by a 102.6 mph fastball in live batting practice.
- Last season across High-A and Double-A, he logged a 3.53 ERA with 168 strikeouts in 120 innings (12.6 K/9) alongside elevated walk rates that fuel the starter-versus-reliever debate.
- Team coverage indicates he is expected to open at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, with a midseason look or a bullpen shift viewed as contingent on whether his control improves.