As the New York Yankees prepared for the start of spring training in Florida, they decided there was no room in camp for a pitcher who was once a highly regarded prospect.
Right-hander Justin Lange was the San Diego Padres’ first-round compensation pick in 2020, selected 34th overall out of high school in Texas. He was thought of so highly that he was traded to the New York Yankees in a one-for-one swap before the 2022 season for former major league home run leader Luke Voit.
However, in four seasons in the Yankees organization, Lange battled constant injuries and was only able to make 42 appearances on the mound in total. He returned from a shoulder injury that cost him all of 2024 to pitch just nine times for the Yankees’ rookie and Low-A affiliates last year.
According to the official transactions log, Lange was released from the Yankees organization on Wednesday.
All told, Lange has made 51 appearances in his minor-league career, spanning 153 1/3 innings. He’s got a 5.51 ERA, but has amassed a gaudy 221 strikeouts. Walks have burned him, as he’s issued 6.7 free passes per nine innings in the minors.
Once ranked as high as No. 7 on MLB Pipeline’s list of top Padres prospects, Lange’s prospect cache has slowly waned as his injuries mounted. But he’s still only 24, so if he can prove he’s healthy and catch on somewhere new for the upcoming season, he may one day be able to tap into some of the traits that made him a first-round pick.
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