Yankees move highly touted prospect Carlos Lagrange to bullpen

The Yankees might not wait until the trade deadline to make improvements to their bullpen.Carlos Lagrange, the Yankees hard-throwing prospect, is being shifted to the bullpen at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.

The 23-year-old Lagrange can top 100 mph with his fastball and was still throwing in the high-90s during his most recent start with SWB on Thursday.It’s that velocity that first caught the Yankees’ attention and speculation began as early as spring training that Lagrange — who is still seen as a starter down the road — could help in the majors as a reliever this season.“Hopefully he puts himself in a position to be an option for us,’’ Aaron Boone said of Lagrange’s potential to pitch in The Bronx this season.Lagrange has thrown 49 innings in 11 starts with SWB and the Yankees will now get him accustomed to throwing on a reliever’s schedule.“We definitely view him long-term, hopefully, as a starter,’’ Boone said before the Yankees’ 9-4 loss to the Guardians at the Stadium.“In the 2026 lens, he has a chance to impact us out of the pen and hopefully not disrupt anything.”Given the team’s issues in the bullpen, which they were unable to fix last year at the trade deadline, it’s no surprise they would look to Lagrange for a boost.J.C.

Escarra, who caught Lagrange in spring training, said he expects an improved version out of the bullpen.“He’s gonna be better,” Escarra said.“He was already throwing 100.

Now he’ll pump 102-103 [mph].This is a good thing.

He’s gonna help us.”Back in March, the topic of getting called up in the middle of the season out of the pen was brought up to Lagrange — who was open to it.“I’ve worked hard my whole career as a starter, but if they need a reliever, I’ll do whatever they want and focus on that,’’ Lagrange said at the time.The move ...