WARREN IS FINDING HIS GROOVE

Will Warren is still figuring things out — and that’s perfectly fine. At just 24 years old, he’s in the early stages of his journey, and like many young pitchers, he’s had to take a few lumps along the way. Last season wasn’t easy; he struggled to find consistency and ended up being sent down to Scranton. But this year, the story’s starting to shift.

With Gerrit Cole on the shelf and Luis Gil out of action, Warren wasn’t gently eased into a role — he was thrown into the fire. Circumstance pushed him into the rotation, and rather than sink, he’s starting to swim.

On Tuesday night against the Rangers, Warren delivered 5.2 scoreless innings in a 5-2 win. He was efficient and sharp, racking up a career-high 10 strikeouts for the second straight start. Over 101 pitches, he allowed just five hits and one walk. His final strikeout — against Marcus Semien — capped off a statement performance.

Manager Aaron Boone tried to take some credit for keeping Warren in to face Semien. “I liked the matchup, liked how he was still throwing the ball,” Boone said. Alright, Boone — sure. But let’s be honest: with the way the rotation’s been stretched thin, Warren was pitching either way. Don’t make it sound like this was part of some grand plan.

The truth is, Warren is earning his place. The Yankees clearly see potential in him, and now we’re starting to see flashes of that turn into production. He’s always had the stuff — the slider has been a calling card since his prospect days, and now his four-seam fastball and change-up are catching up. The difference now is confidence. He’s not just throwing pitches — he’s pitching with conviction.

Aaron Judge summed it up nicely: “He’s going to be a big piece for us down the road.” And it’s hard to disagree. Drafted in 2021 and debuting professionally in 2022, Warren is still early in his development. But with each outing, he’s showing that he’s not just filling in — he’s growing into something more.

Let’s see where it goes. The tools are there. The belief is building. And right now, Will Warren is giving the Yankees something to believe in.