Yankees' 6-foot-7 prospect follows up 12-K gem with 11 more punchouts
This browser does not support the video element.
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Henry Lalane has no better role model than himself.
Coming off the most dominant outing of his pro career, the Yankees’ No. 14 prospect twirled another gem. Lalane racked up 11 strikeouts over seven innings for Single-A Tampa, which edged St. Lucie, 1-0, on Friday night at Clover Park.
The performance was eerily similar to his last start on June 26 when he picked up a career-high 12 punchouts and allowed one hit across seven scoreless frames.
Lalane’s dominance to close out June and welcome in July reads like video game numbers:
14 IP
4 H
0 R
0 BB
23 K
Featuring a fastball that topped out at 97 mph (and averaged a shade under 95), plus his ever-improving changeup, the 22-year-old was in control from the first pitch of the night. Lalane fanned two in the opening frame, struck out the side in the second and notched two more in the third.
But the Bronx-born pitcher’s ability to adapt -- at a time when pitch counts are monitored with eagle-eyed focus -- was on full display as the game went on. Lalane picked up “only” four K’s over his final four frames, but quick at-bats enabled him to complete seven innings on just 84 pitches (54 strikes).
The 6-foot-7 hurler generated an impressive 23 whiffs on 41 swings (56.1 percent) and allowed just three hits. St. Lucie managed to put one runner on second base -- on a first-inning double -- and hit the ball out of the infield just six times.
But perhaps even more impressive than the strikeouts and the poise was Lalane’s command. It was the first time this season he did not issue a free pass in consecutive appearances, and coupled with his 23 strikeouts in that span, he joined some impressive company.
Only eight Major Leaguers have produced back-to-back starts with 23 or more K’s and no walks since 2018, with Arizona’s Zac Gallen being the most recent in 2023.
It’s been a steady climb upward for Lalane, who got off to a rocky start and woke up the morning of May 17 with a 6.30 ERA after a rocky start against Dunedin. But since that time, Lalane has been one of the most dominant pitchers in the Florida State League, surrendering five runs in seven starts -- four coming in one outing.
Lalane’s ERA is down to a season-best 2.74 and he’s limiting opposing batters to a .183 average, while running an 81/22 K/BB ratio in 62 1/3 innings.