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Post by JohnM on Feb 6, 2024 10:33:24 GMT -5
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Post by JohnM on Apr 7, 2024 17:32:22 GMT -5
Yankees prospect LHP Henry Lalane has entered into the top 10 of LHP prospects on MLB Pipeline 👏🏼
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Post by my2cents on Apr 11, 2024 14:06:29 GMT -5
Martin Sekulski’s 2024 Breakout Prospects
One of the most exciting pitching prospects in the game is 19-year-old Dominican left-hander Henry Lalane from the NY Yankees organization. Lalane is no stranger to the Bronx, having been born there and sharing dual citizenship in the US and the Dominican Republic. Entering 2024, the 6’7″, 210 lb southpaw is on the verge of a massive breakout, going from a relative unknown at the start of 2023 to a top-50 prospect by the end of this season. The Yankees gave Lalane a $350k bonus as a 17-year-old in 2021, an atypical payday for a pitcher. In his first season, he battled control issues in the DSL before settling in the middle of 2022. Lalane underwent Tommy John surgery late in 2022 and missed most of the 2023 season recovering.
So, what makes Lalane so good? Let’s start with his improved command and strike-throwing ability. What was once a concern has become a significant strength, and Lalane projects to have above-average control. With a significant physical frame comes extra extension. Although Lalane has not reached his maximum extension, he is releasing the ball much closer than an average pitcher. That extension, coupled with the length in the upper half of Lalane’s body, adds deception for hitters, leaving them guessing on pitches that are exploding toward them.
Next is his arsenal, which features a three-pitch mix, including a four-seam fastball, a slider, and a changeup. His four-seam fastball sits in the low-to-mid 90s and has reached 97mph. The heater has good arm side run and carries well up in the zone, but also, paints the inside corner against right-handed hitters. His slider has a sharp bite but does not always get as deep as I’d prefer. The pitch has plus potential but still needs refining. His third offering is a changeup with good depth and fading action. It sits in the mid-80s and has plenty of velocity separation from his heater.
2024 will be a big challenge for Lalane as he continues to work back from Tommy John. His improved command while maintaining velocity has me excited about his upside. This Spring will be his first venture into full-season ball, and if Lalane continues to dominate as he did in the Complex, he will burst into the top 50 and assert himself among the game’s best pitching prospects.
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