Yankees move highly touted prospect Carlos Lagrange to bullpen

The Yankees might not wait until the trade deadline to make improvements to their bullpen.

Carlos Lagrange, the Yankees hard-throwing prospect, is being shifted to the bullpen at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

The 23-year-old Lagrange can top 100 mph with his fastball and was still throwing in the high-90s during his most recent start with SWB on Thursday.

It’s that velocity that first caught the Yankees’ attention and speculation began as early as spring training that Lagrange — who is still seen as a starter down the road — could help in the majors as a reliever this season.

“Hopefully he puts himself in a position to be an option for us,’’ Aaron Boone said of Lagrange’s potential to pitch in The Bronx this season.

Lagrange has thrown 49 innings in 11 starts with SWB and the Yankees will now get him accustomed to throwing on a reliever’s schedule.

“We definitely view him long-term, hopefully, as a starter,’’ Boone said before the Yankees’ 9-4 loss to the Guardians at the Stadium. “In the 2026 lens, he has a chance to impact us out of the pen and hopefully not disrupt anything.”

Given the team’s issues in the bullpen, which they were unable to fix last year at the trade deadline, it’s no surprise they would look to Lagrange for a boost.

J.C. Escarra, who caught Lagrange in spring training, said he expects an improved version out of the bullpen.

“He’s gonna be better,” Escarra said. “He was already throwing 100. Now he’ll pump 102-103 [mph]. This is a good thing. He’s gonna help us.”

Back in March, the topic of getting called up in the middle of the season out of the pen was brought up to Lagrange — who was open to it.

“I’ve worked hard my whole career as a starter, but if they need a reliever, I’ll do whatever they want and focus on that,’’ Lagrange said at the time.

The move was first reported by the YES Network.

Clarke Schmidt threw a 20-pitch bullpen session at the Stadium on Tuesday in his comeback from Tommy John surgery and said he could face hitters at some point by the end of the month before a rehab assignment.

The right-hander, who also underwent Tommy John surgery in college, could return to the Yankees in the second half, although it’s unclear what role he’ll have, since the Yankees’ rotation is so deep.

Gerrit Cole has shown almost no rust in his first two starts following his Tommy John surgery.

Max Fried, sidelined with a left elbow bone bruise, threw at 75 feet Tuesday for a second straight day, according to Boone. “He seems to be responding to everything really well.”

Paul Goldschmidt was initially in the lineup at first base, but his back tightened up and he went to DH, while Ben Rice started at first. Goldschmidt had three hits — including a double and a homer.

Giancarlo Stanton (calf) is expected to start taking live BP on Wednesday. … Amed Rosario was back from the paternity list and started at third base Tuesday. … The Yankees, along with the rest of MLB, commemorated Lou Gehrig Day by wearing No. 4 patches on their jerseys Tuesday.