New York Yankees right-handed pitcher Will Warren was untouchable in his spring training debut.
The Bronx Bombers began their 2025 exhibition slate on Friday with a 4-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in their Grapefruit League opener at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida.
Righty Marcus Stroman started on the mound for the Yanks, where he surrendered a pair of singles in a scoreless inning. In the bottom frame, first baseman Paul Goldschmidt crushed an RBI double that gave New York the lead – and they never looked back.
With a comfortable two-run cushion, the Yankees handed the ball over to Warren, who dominated for two innings. The 25-year-old limited Tampa to just a hit and a walk in the second and third. He struck out three hitters – including the first two batters he faced – and induced seven whiffs on 36 pitches.
Yankee manager Aaron Boone spoke with YES Network during the fourth inning, where he explained what he saw from Warren during the game.
“I feel like Will has so much ability, so many weapons out there, a great arsenal to get hitters out with,” he said. “It’s just about continuing to refine it, continuing to gain experience, continuing and knowing how to use that arsenal, knowing how to miss, and knowing how to stay away from trouble, but the stuff is all there.”
Warren made his major-league debut in pinstripes last season and started five of the six games he appeared in. The righty struggled to find his footing, posting a whopping 10.32 ERA while surrendering 10 walks and five homers in 22.2 innings pitched. However, Warren’s 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings indicated some promise of him becoming a strikeout artist in the future.
Through two innings against the Rays, Boone was particularly impressed with Warren’s changeup, which he struck out two batters with. The Yankee skipper believes the development of Warren’s changeup could be wildly advantageous for the young righty.
“The changeup has certainly been a factor for him and he continues to improve,” said Boone. “It’s an important pitch for him, especially as a starting pitcher. With that good two-seam action that he creates, and the slider and the sweeper, he’s got that natural advantage against righties, but what’s he going to have for a left-handed hitter? he’s got the cutter, but that changeup and the development of that will be important for him moving forward.”
The Yankees are back in action Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays at TD Ballpark at 1:07 p.m. ET. Lefty Carlos Rodón will make his spring debut as the club’s starting pitcher.
