Will Warren’s breaking ball brilliance leads to a career-high nine K’s in the Yankees’ victory.
Will Warren is rapidly transforming from rotation stopgap to potential mainstay for the New York Yankees. The 25-year-old right-hander delivered his second straight eye-opening performance Wednesday at T-Mobile Park, racking up nine strikeouts across five solid innings to help the Yankees secure a tight 3-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners.
Though a scoring change later adjusted the two runs Warren allowed from unearned to earned, the outcome couldn’t diminish his growing impact. In a rotation that entered 2025 surrounded by uncertainty, He is steadily emerging as a reliable force.
Building momentum in the Bronx
The Yankees’ starting staff has leaned heavily on Max Fried and Carlos Rodón this season, making Warren’s development particularly significant. With Clarke Schmidt also finding better rhythm in recent appearances, what was once considered a weakness now shows genuine promise.
“Just getting ahead early, attacking the zone, being confident in my stuff,” Warren explained after the game, highlighting his approach during this successful stretch.
Warren’s strikeout consistency has become particularly notable — he’s now fanned seven or more batters in three consecutive starts, accumulating 24 strikeouts during this impressive run. After showing flashes amid inconsistency in limited 2024 appearances and early 2025 outings, he’s now harnessing his complete arsenal with increasingly effective results.
Warren’s Seattle showcase
AP
Warren established dominance immediately in Wednesday’s afternoon contest, striking out five of his first six Mariners opponents. By incorporating an improved curveball alongside his established fastball-sweeper combination, he controlled the game through five frames, limiting Seattle to just three hits and one walk over 92 pitches.
“The poise out there, the confidence — that’s what I love to see,” Yankees captain Aaron Judge remarked about Warren’s performance. “He had the great outing for us in Oakland. Impressive, just pounding the strike zone. His curveball and sweeper looked really sharp.”
Warren’s expanded use of his curveball marked a significant development — he threw it 13 times, the most in his career, generating four strikeouts with the pitch. This evolution represents months of dedicated refinement.
“We’ve worked hard the last couple of weeks on that,” Warren said. “We have the shape, we got the grip. It’s more me having confidence in it and ripping it through the zone.”
Cementing rotation role
Wednesday’s standout effort followed Warren’s breakthrough performance on May 9 against Oakland, where he pitched into the eighth inning while surrendering just one run. His growth provides crucial stability during a season where the Yankees have needed to navigate Gerrit Cole’s extended absence and inconsistent performances from depth options.
While Warren’s pitch count — 92 through five innings — limited his outing’s length, his trajectory remains encouraging. His command continues improving, his strikeout totals are climbing, and perhaps most importantly, his confidence is visibly growing.
“I try to just stay pitch to pitch,” Warren noted. “But it definitely gives me a little confidence heading into the third inning when you’ve already got five guys down. Just trying to go dominate.”
The Yankees’ rotation has now allowed three earned runs or fewer in 23 of their past 28 games, signaling the group’s increasing stability, with Warren playing a meaningful role in that improvement.
Future outlook for rookie arm and New York
NYY
As the Yankees prepare for their high-profile Subway Series matchup this weekend with a 25-18 record, Warren’s emergence comes at a critical juncture. While Fried and Rodon anchor the front end and Schmidt continues developing, His progression gives manager Aaron Boone increased flexibility and potentially previews the Yankees’ long-term pitching picture.
Warren’s next developmental challenge involves improving pitch efficiency. Seattle’s hitters extended several at-bats into deep counts, elevating their pitch total. Refining this aspect could transform him from a roster contributor to a rotation fixture.
“He battled for us and gave us some length,” Judge said. “He turned it over to the great bullpen we’ve got. That’s what you want from a young starter.”
Rookie arsenal is expanding
Fastball: Consistently 93-95 mph with late movement and effective location
Sweeper: Generates whiffs from both left and right-handed hitters
Curveball: Newest weapon showing improved shape and command during May
Command: Continuing to develop, with better first-pitch strike percentage, setting a positive tone
The Yankees’ emphasis on pitch design and analytical refinement throughout their development system has clearly benefited Warren. With appropriate support and workload management, he could establish himself as a long-term rotation piece.
The rotation’s collective improvement aligns with a deep bullpen and an offense delivering timely production. With Judge, Jasson Domínguez, Paul Goldschmidt, and Anthony Volpe powering the lineup while young arms like Warren contribute on the mound, the Yankees increasingly resemble a complete contender.
As the season progresses through May, Warren’s development bears watching not just for immediate results, but for his potential October impact.
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