Alex Lange | RHP

Background
The 21-year-old Lange went undrafted out of a Missouri high school because of his strong commitment to LSU even though he was considered a top five rounds talent. He was dominant as a freshman, throwing 114 innings with 131 strikeouts and a 1.97 ERA en route to helping the Tigers to the College World Series. Lange hasn’t been quite that good since, though he has a 2.87 ERA with 124 strikeouts and 34 walks in 103.1 innings this spring.

Scouting Report
Lange has one of the best two-pitch mixes in the 2017 draft class. He sits anywhere from 93-96 mph with his fastball and has touched as high as 98 mph in the past. His hard low-80s curveball is a legitimate out pitch. Lange has worked hard to improve his changeup, which is promising, but it’s still not a reliable weapon. His delivery is not the prettiest thing in the world and he tends to rush through it at times, hurting his location. Lange also has a tendency to try to throw the ball through a brick wall in tough spots. That’s something that can be fixed with experience though.

Miscellany
MLB.com ranks Lange the highest in their latest draft rankings. They have him 23rd. Baseball America has him 34th and Keith Law (subs. req’d) has him 45th. The Yankees hold the 16th overall pick. Lange comes with some reliever risk because his changeup needs work and his delivery can be violent, though his track record as a three-year starter at a major college program ensures he’ll get a chance to start in pro ball. The Yankees love their power arms, though in Lange’s case, he seems like a ‘tweener. Taking him in the first round might be a bit of a reach, but waiting until the second round means you’re probably not going to get him.