Will Warren seizes opportunity as Yankees’ rotation wobbles under injury crisis

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With Luis Gil sidelined until at least June due to a high-grade lat strain, the New York Yankees have found themselves searching for a reliable replacement. While Marcus Stroman is set to step in initially, Will Warren’s impressive spring performance is making a strong case for him to emerge as the team’s next rotation option.

Warren’s latest statement came Tuesday against a Philadelphia Phillies lineup featuring most of their regular starters. The young pitcher surrendered just a solo home run across three efficient innings while recording four strikeouts, including impressive punchouts of Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber on well-located fastballs.

“A lot of downs last year, unfortunately, but I learned from them and moved on,” Warren said following his outing. “Taking that into this year, a lot of failure, you learn to overcome that and learn from your mistakes.”

From struggle to standout, Warren turns things around

Warren’s transformation this spring represents a remarkable turnaround from his challenging 2024 campaign. Thrust into major league action when Gerrit Cole was scratched due to body fatigue last July, Warren struggled through six appearances for the Yankees, posting a 10.32 ERA while opponents hit .340 against him.

His Triple-A numbers also reflected inconsistency, with a 5.91 ERA across 23 starts at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

The contrast between that version of Warren and his current form could not be more pronounced. Through three spring outings, he has allowed just one run on two hits and two walks across eight innings while striking out 11 batters. His command has noticeably sharpened, and his pitch mix has expanded to include a more developed curveball alongside his fastball and changeup.

“Gosh, he was excellent,” manager Aaron Boone said after Tuesday’s performance. “The changeup is real now. You see the life on the fastball. Put some good fastballs by good hitters, mixing the sinker and four-seam. Executed a lot. Another good day for him.”

Gil’s absence creates opportunity

The timing of Warren’s emergence coincides with a significant organizational need. Gil, the 2024 American League Rookie of the Year, is expected to miss at least the season’s first two months while recovering from a high-grade latissimus dorsi strain diagnosed in late February.

While veteran Marcus Stroman appears positioned to initially fill Gil’s rotation spot alongside Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, and Clarke Schmidt, the Yankees understand the need for additional starting depth throughout a 162-game season.

Yankees catcher Austin Wells, who has worked with Warren both in the minors and majors, identified specific improvements in the pitcher’s approach this spring.

“Probably just a little more control of himself and aware of what makes him good,” Wells explained. “With that, it makes him that much better of a pitcher.”

Development path mirrors Schmidt

Boone drew parallels between Warren’s development arc and that of current rotation member Clarke Schmidt, who similarly endured early career struggles before establishing himself as a reliable major league starter.

“That’s part of his experience,” Boone said. “That’s part of his continuing to get to that next level and why I make the Clarke Schmidt comparison a lot. That was Clarke a few years ago. You saw the good even with outings where he’d get hit a little bit. He’d just make mistakes and kind of learn. Hopefully [Warren] has benefitted from a lot of that.”

Schmidt posted a 4.64 ERA in 2022 and a 4.42 mark in 2023 before breaking through with a 3.78 ERA across 29 starts last season, demonstrating the developmental runway sometimes needed for young pitchers.

Warren, a former eighth-round selection from Southeastern Louisiana University in the 2021 draft, has shown similar persistence despite setbacks. His ability to incorporate lessons from previous struggles appears to be accelerating his development timeline.

Roster decisions approaching

While Warren is likely to begin the season at Triple-A barring another rotation injury, his spring performance has positioned him as the clear next man up. The Yankees face roster decisions in the coming weeks as they finalize their pitching staff for the March 27 opener against Milwaukee.

Beyond Stroman, non-roster veteran Carlos Carrasco has also shown promise this spring as another experienced option should rotation needs to arise. However, Warren’s youth and development trajectory may give him an edge as the organization balances immediate needs with long-term planning.

For Warren, the focus remains on continuing his strong spring performance while remaining ready for whatever opportunity presents itself.

“I’m just trying to show them what I’ve got,” Warren said. “I know last year wasn’t what I wanted, but I’ve put in the work. When they need me, I’ll be ready.”

As Gil focuses on his rehabilitation with hopes of a June return, Warren’s emergence provides the Yankees with valuable insurance and potentially another homegrown arm to strengthen their championship aspirations in 2025.

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