It's Official! Will Warren Is Set To Pitch In The Bronx!

It’s been such an emotional roller coaster ride this Spring, and that is especially true for Will Warren. He had zero expectation of earning a starting spot in Spring Training, and then bad luck struck (because I am convinced we are cursed) and opportunity knocked on Warren’s door.

And he answered. The 25-year old fifth overall prospect pitched to a 4.19 ERA over six appearances and now he will pitching in the Bronx. Aaron Boone broke the news yesterday and now Warren has to get ready for not only his first start of 2025, but it will be in the Bronx against a revamped Arizona Diamondbacks team. 

His last appearance against the Baltimore Orioles wasn’t the prettiest, so it will be interesting to see how he fares against another team with high expectations this season. Warren will need to show the Yankees the pitcher from his first five appearances if he wants to keep his starting position long-term and that may not be as easy as it sounds.

Supposedly, Clarke Schmidt‘s injury is not serious, and the Yankees are anticipating him to be ready for big league action soon. He will his time on the disabled list to increase his stamina and build up his pitch count to around 70-80 pitches. That would be the best-case scenario that Boone believes is possible. Nothing is official, but that is the hope. The Yankees need to do whatever is best for his health and stamina long-term because we have already been sucker punched with the loss of Gerrit Cole all season and Luis Gil out until June as a best case scenario.

Even if Schmidt is back soon, if Warren impresses, he could still keep a rotation spot. We have already seen how inconsistent Marcus Stroman is. He is sitting in a number three spot right now, but that is based on his veteran status only, not based on his proven ability to help this team. The Yankees were trying to get rid of him early in spring, especially before Cole had Tommy John surgery. If he can’t do his part and help this team the Yankees could still look for a way to move him….especially if another team suddenly becomes desperate.

I’m also not sold on Carlos Carrasco, who has a starting job for now, but he has had rough seasons since 2022. I think he is going to get lit up in Yankee stadium especially. He’s not the pitcher he once was, and while I want to see anyone pitching for us succeed, I just don’t think he will be able to hang in the Bronx. He’s here now because the Yankees are desperate. The Yankees need him for now. He could easily pitch his way out of a job….which could keep Warren around.

If Warren can stay consistent and pitch, he has a shot to stick around. It won’t be easy….but Stroman and Carrasco aren’t exactly showstoppers, either. He gives me more hope than the others. He’s also made it this far by seizing opportunity and he can do it again.