Ranked No. 20 in the New York Yankees organization by MLB Pipeline, Kyle Carr is a left-handed pitching prospect who finished the 2024 season with their High-A affiliate, the Hudson Valley Renegades.
Carr, 22, was a third-round pick by the Yankees in the 2023 MLB Draft out of Palomar College in California, and was also a good hitter in college, going 21-for-42 with a .500 batting average, two home runs, two triples, 10 doubles, and 17 RBIs.
“I think the biggest thing is just velo(city), because it dropped off a little bit last Spring, but I am feeling good so far,” Carr told World Baseball Network when asked what he was working on this spring.
Carr can hit 97 mph with his fastball speed, and he is now closer to that speed consistently this spring. He is also working on enhancing his two-seam fastball. His third offering, a slider, complements his fastballs. He got stronger towards the end of the 2024 season, and finished his first full season with the Renegades with 104 innings pitched, 95 strikeouts, and an ERA of 4.76.
The highlight of his season came when he was part of a combined no-hitter on July 19, 2024, against the Atlanta Braves High-A affiliate, the Rome Emperors, throwing five shutout innings and three strikeouts.
Carr was born in La Jolla, California, in the San Diego area, and began working with pitching coach Brandon James when he was 10 years old.
“We just went over a lot of mechanical things, keeping everything simple, not overthinking it, and going out there and having fun,” Carr said about James.
James likes what he sees out of the young lefty.
“Kyle has the pitch ability and has all the pitching tools to make some big jumps,” James told World Baseball Network. “He has a deceptive delivery and command of his pitches. He is a competitor and every time he steps on the mound you have a chance to see him get a lot of big swings and misses. One of the best traits he has had since he was a kid is his ability to be even-keeled in every moment! He will represent the pinstripes in a great way working up the ladder to the big leagues.”
