| IP | 4.1 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 2.08 |
| WHIP | 2.31 |
| BB/9 | 14.54 |
| SO/9 | 14.54 |
- Full name Alex Craig Lange
- Born 10/02/1995 in Riverside, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 202 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Louisiana State
- Debut 04/10/2021
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Drafted in the 1st round (30th overall) by the Chicago Cubs in 2017 (signed for $1,925,000).
View Draft Report
It is possible that the best season of Lange's hopefully lengthy career will forever be his freshman season at Louisiana State. It's a hard season to ever live up to again--12-0, 1.97 with 131 strikeouts in 114 innings as the ace of an LSU team that went to Omaha. In the two years since, scouts keep waiting to see that same guy again, but the slightly lesser Lange they've seen is still very good. Lange doesn't get to 94-96 mph as frequently as he did in 2015, but more than anything, teams have realized Lange's plus curveball is so good that they are much better off taking and hoping to do damage against his fastball. When he locates his hard-breaking curveball, he can dominate, but on nights he can't land his curveball for strikes he's not shown that his command of his 90-94 mph fastball is good enough to consistently get ahead with it. He shows occassional feel for his upper 80s changeup, which flashes late fade on the right night. Lange's delivery involves some effort which has explains some of his command struggles. Lange's lengthy record of durability and success make him a safe option at the back of the first round.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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TRACK RECORD: Drafted 30th overall by the Cubs in 2017, Lange was sent to the Tigers at the 2019 trade deadline as part of the return for Nick Castellanos. He made his Tigers organizational debut at Double-A Erie and pitched to a 3.45 ERA in nine starts, albeit with a concerning number of walks. He followed with a strong stint as a reliever in the Arizona Fall League and was brought to the alternate training site in 2020.
SCOUTING REPORT: Lange is a starter for now, but his max-effort delivery and below-average control have him ticketed for relief in the long term. His 90-93 mph fastball is a fringe-average pitch that lacks life, and his curveball is an average pitch. His curveball shows hard bite and can miss bats but doesn't quite project as better than average. Lange also has a slider, but it's not consistent enough to be much more than fringe-average.
THE FUTURE: Lange's fastball could tick up in relief, where his control would be less of an issue. That's his likely role in the majors and he should be in line to make his debut in 2021. -
TRACK RECORD: Lange compiled a 30-9, 2.91 record across three seasons at Louisiana State before being selected by the Cubs 30th overall in the 2017 draft. Lange pitched well in the Carolina League in 2018, but opened the season there once again this season and his ERA soared to 7.36 across 11 starts. He fared much better for Double-A Tennessee before being traded to the Tigers as part of the package for outfielder Nicholas Castellanos at the trade deadline. Lange was strictly used as a reliever after the trade for the first time in pro ball.
SCOUTING REPORT: Control has been an issue for Lange with his high-effort delivery and head whack. He tops out at 93 mph with his fastball, but sits 90-92 most outings. It doesn't have much life and projects as average at best. He throws a power curveball with hard downward drop and a slider with short break on it, both of which are effective but not plus. His changeup is firm but flashes above-average at times with sinking action.
THE FUTURE: Even with a four-pitch mix, Lange's delivery and fringe command make the bullpen his long-term spot. He'll see Triple-A in 2020. -
Track Record: Lange was stellar in college, amassing a 30-9, 2.91 mark over three seasons at Louisiana State and reaching the College World Series finals in 2017. He was eased slowly into pro ball at short-season Eugene before getting his first full workload in 2018.
Scouting Report: The biggest problem with Lange's season was that his fastball was down a notch from his college days, instead settling in at 89-92 mph. Moreover, the pitch wasn't thrown with much movement or life. Some scouts went as far as describing the pitch as a batting practice fastball. He backed the pitch up with a changeup that showed sink and fade and projected as plus, and a power curveball with bite and depth. The curve was inconsistent at times, and projects as average. He throws from a hurried, funky delivery that includes a head whack and can hamper his control and command. Evaluators suggest slowing down and making an effort to separate his hands over the rubber might better serve him.
The Future: Lange will move to Double-A Tennessee in 2019, and has a ceiling of a back-end starter. -
A first-team All-American as a freshman in 2015, Lange went 30-9, 2.91 in three seasons at Louisiana State and helped the Tigers reach the 2017 College World Series finals. His heavy reliance on his curveball, one of the best in the 2017 draft class, dropped his stock a bit as a junior, and the Cubs got him with their second pick (30th overall). An undisclosed issue with his physical prompted him to sign a below-slot deal, at $1.925 million, the only first-round bonus below $2 million. Lange earns plus-plus grades for his curveball from his admirers, and even skeptics grade his curve as plus. He spins it with mid-80s power at his best. When he locates his curveball and can throw it for strikes whenever he wants, it opens up his whole arsenal and increases his confidence in his fastball. Lange has sat 92-96 mph at his best, but he rarely if ever did that in 2017, instead pitching at 90-93 with some 94s mixed in. The Cubs will force Lange to throw his changeup as a pro more than he ever did in college and try to get him to pitch inside and up in the zone with his fastball to make him less predictable. With his current two-pitch mix, Lange could move quickly as a closer, with one club official likening him to a more physical, better version of Justin Grimm. The Cubs will push the 22-year-old to high Class A Myrtle Beach to see if his competitiveness can help him learn a changeup quickly.
Draft Prospects
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It is possible that the best season of Lange's hopefully lengthy career will forever be his freshman season at Louisiana State. It's a hard season to ever live up to again--12-0, 1.97 with 131 strikeouts in 114 innings as the ace of an LSU team that went to Omaha. In the two years since, scouts keep waiting to see that same guy again, but the slightly lesser Lange they've seen is still very good. Lange doesn't get to 94-96 mph as frequently as he did in 2015, but more than anything, teams have realized Lange's plus curveball is so good that they are much better off taking and hoping to do damage against his fastball. When he locates his hard-breaking curveball, he can dominate, but on nights he can't land his curveball for strikes he's not shown that his command of his 90-94 mph fastball is good enough to consistently get ahead with it. He shows occassional feel for his upper 80s changeup, which flashes late fade on the right night. Lange's delivery involves some effort which has explains some of his command struggles. Lange's lengthy record of durability and success make him a safe option at the back of the first round. -
Scouts flocked to see Lee's Summit the last two years to see both Lange and teammate Monte Harrison, who figures to go in the first round and is the draft's best athlete. Lange has present size and strength like Harrison, though he lacks his teammate's sheer fast-twitch athleticism. The 6-foot-3, 221-pound Lange does have velocity and arm strength, with a sturdy frame that at times helps him pump his fastball up to 94 mph. He's improved his delivery, which still features effort and leads to inconsistency. In a late playoff start, Lange struck out 14 but still walked five, and most scouts consider him a future reliever, where his low-80s slider could play up. The pitch has shown two-plane break and projects as a plus pitch. He's committed to Louisiana State.
Best Tools List
- Rated Best Curveball in the Chicago Cubs in 2019
- Rated Best Curveball in the Chicago Cubs in 2018
Scouting Reports
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TRACK RECORD: Drafted 30th overall by the Cubs in 2017, Lange was sent to the Tigers at the 2019 trade deadline as part of the return for Nick Castellanos. He made his Tigers organizational debut at Double-A Erie and pitched to a 3.45 ERA in nine starts, albeit with a concerning number of walks. He followed with a strong stint as a reliever in the Arizona Fall League and was brought to the alternate training site in 2020.
SCOUTING REPORT: Lange is a starter for now, but his max-effort delivery and below-average control have him ticketed for relief in the long term. His 90-93 mph fastball is a fringe-average pitch that lacks life, and his curveball is an average pitch. His curveball shows hard bite and can miss bats but doesn't quite project as better than average. Lange also has a slider, but it's not consistent enough to be much more than fringe-average.
THE FUTURE: Lange's fastball could tick up in relief, where his control would be less of an issue. That's his likely role in the majors and he should be in line to make his debut in 2021. -
TRACK RECORD: Drafted 30th overall by the Cubs in 2017, Lange was sent to the Tigers at the 2019 trade deadline as part of the return for Nick Castellanos. He made his Tigers organizational debut at Double-A Erie and pitched to a 3.45 ERA in nine starts, albeit with a concerning number of walks. He followed with a strong stint as a reliever in the Arizona Fall League and was brought to the alternate training site in 2020.
SCOUTING REPORT: Lange is a starter for now, but his max-effort delivery and below-average control have him ticketed for relief in the long term. His 90-93 mph fastball is a fringe-average pitch that lacks life, and his curveball is an average pitch. His curveball shows hard bite and can miss bats but doesn't quite project as better than average. Lange also has a slider, but it's not consistent enough to be much more than fringe-average.
THE FUTURE: Lange's fastball could tick up in relief, where his control would be less of an issue. That's his likely role in the majors and he should be in line to make his debut in 2021. -
TRACK RECORD: Drafted 30th overall by the Cubs in 2017, Lange was sent to the Tigers at the 2019 trade deadline as part of the return for Nick Castellanos. He made his Tigers organizational debut at Double-A Erie and pitched to a 3.45 ERA in nine starts, albeit with a concerning number of walks. He followed with a strong stint as a reliever in the Arizona Fall League and was brought to the alternate training site in 2020.
SCOUTING REPORT: Lange is a starter for now, but his max-effort delivery and below-average control have him ticketed for relief in the long term. His 90-93 mph fastball is a fringe-average pitch that lacks life, and his curveball is an average pitch. His curveball shows hard bite and can miss bats but doesn't quite project as better than average. Lange also has a slider, but it's not consistent enough to be much more than fringe-average.
THE FUTURE: Lange's fastball could tick up in relief, where his control would be less of an issue. That's his likely role in the majors and he should be in line to make his debut in 2021. -
TRACK RECORD: Lange compiled a 30-9, 2.91 record across three seasons at Louisiana State before being selected by the Cubs 30th overall in the 2017 draft. Lange pitched well in the Carolina League in 2018, but opened the season there once again this season and his ERA soared to 7.36 across 11 starts. He fared much better for Double-A Tennessee before being traded to the Tigers as part of the package for outfielder Nicholas Castellanos at the trade deadline. Lange was strictly used as a reliever after the trade for the first time in pro ball.
SCOUTING REPORT: Control has been an issue for Lange with his high-effort delivery and head whack. He tops out at 93 mph with his fastball, but sits 90-92 most outings. It doesn't have much life and projects as average at best. He throws a power curveball with hard downward drop and a slider with short break on it, both of which are effective but not plus. His changeup is firm but flashes above-average at times with sinking action.
THE FUTURE: Even with a four-pitch mix, Lange's delivery and fringe command make the bullpen his long-term spot. He'll see Triple-A in 2020. -
Drafted in the first round in 2017 out of Louisiana State, Lange skipped low Class A and headed straight to the Carolina League to start his first full season as a pro. He earned excellent marks for his curveball coming out of college, but is learning to round out his arsenal as a pro. His velocity was down early in the season, and his herky-jerky delivery was making it easy for hitters to pick up his curveball and changeup. He’s changed the grip on his changeup, and both offspeed pitches could be above-average with further refinement and consistency. -
Track Record: Lange went 30-9, 2.91 in three seasons at Louisiana State and helped the Tigers reach the 2017 College World Series finals. His heavy reliance on his curveball, one of the best in the 2017 draft class, dropped his stock a bit as a junior, and the Cubs got him with their second pick (30th overall). An undisclosed issue with his physical prompted him to sign a below-slot deal, at $1.925 million, the only first-round bonus below $2 million. Scouting Report: Lange earns plus-plus grades for his curveball from his admirers, and even skeptics grade his curve as plus. He spins it with mid-80s power at his best. When he locates his curveball, it opens up his whole arsenal and increases his confidence in his fastball. Lange has sat 92-96 mph at his best, but he rarely if ever did that in 2017, instead pitching at 90-93. The Cubs will force Lange to throw his changeup as a pro more and try to get him to pitch inside and up in the zone with his fastball to make him less predictable. The Future: With his current two-pitch mix, Lange could move quickly as a closer, with one club official likening him to Justin Grimm. The Cubs will push the 22-year-old to high Class A Myrtle Beach to see if his competitiveness can help him learn a changeup quickly.
