New York Yankees fans, it's time to talk about Carlos Lagrange. The top pitching prospect turned heads this spring with a blistering 102 mph fastball and movement that left hitters guessing. Some even thought he might crack the Opening Day roster. But the Yankees wisely sent him to Triple-A for more seasoning—and that decision is looking smarter by the day.

Through his first seven starts of 2026, Lagrange has a problem that's only getting worse. Yes, he's still striking out batters at an impressive clip—38 Ks in 28.1 innings. But his control issues are impossible to ignore. He's already walked 17 batters, averaging 5.4 walks per nine innings. For a pitcher with a career 5.2 BB/9, that's not a blip; it's a trend heading in the wrong direction.

This is exactly why I've always pushed back on the idea of moving Lagrange to the bullpen. Walks are trouble for any pitcher, but they become a bigger headache when you're coming in with runners already on base. At 6-foot-7, harnessing his delivery has always been a challenge. But if he wants to make it in the big leagues, he'll need to solve this puzzle.

Remember Dellin Betances? He had similar command issues in the Yankees' system before finding some control in the majors. That's the blueprint Lagrange needs to follow. But so far in 2026, he's not on that track. His lack of command is affecting everything—he's already given up six home runs, including three in his last start when he walked three and allowed five runs over 4.1 innings.

There's no questioning Lagrange's stuff. It's electric. But baseball history is full of talented arms that never put it all together. For now, Lagrange's biggest challenge isn't his fastball—it's finding the strike zone.