WILL WARREN IS PROVING ME WRONG & I LOVE IT!

The New York Yankees beat the Detroit Tigers, and the big headline for me was Will Warren — who, to my surprise and mild delight, actually looked terrific. Yes, that Will Warren. And yes, I’m fully prepared to admit it when a guy makes me look a little silly.

Warren pulled off something no other Yankees pitcher has managed this spring: he made it through the sixth inning. In March baseball, where starters are usually yanked faster than a bad Wi-Fi connection, that’s a pretty big deal.

As Empire Sports Media noted:

“Throwing 64 pitches effectively is fantastic for his tune-up process, proving he is nearly ready for a full starter’s workload. If his progression stays on this trajectory, he should be knocking on the door of 80 pitches by the time he takes the mound for his next Grapefruit League appearance.”

And honestly? I’m here for it.

Now, let’s be clear about something: I haven’t exactly been president of the Will Warren fan club. Not even close. But I am a fan of players who shove doubt back down the throats of people like me. So go ahead, Will — prove me wrong. I’ll happily eat that serving of crow if it means the Yankees get a legitimate arm.

The next hurdle is consistency. Last year Warren had an unfortunate habit of mixing a great outing with one that looked like it was sponsored by gasoline and matches. Those occasional meltdowns have to disappear. That's where he lost me.

There are encouraging signs, though. His four-seam fastball has ticked up about one mile per hour this spring and is showing roughly two extra inches of induced vertical break. In other words, it’s got a little more life — the kind that can make hitters swing under it instead of sending it to the parking lot.

The real trouble spot in 2025 was his sweeper. Opponents hit a very unfriendly .336 against it. That’s less “wipeout pitch” and more “please hit this somewhere hard.” If Warren can turn that offering into something merely average, scouts believe he has the tools to evolve into more than just rotation filler.

Right now, the projection is that Warren could settle in as a reliable back-end starter for the Yankees in 2026. But if the pitch mix sharpens and the bad outings disappear, that ceiling might creep closer to the middle of the rotation.

For a guy I wasn’t exactly sold on? That’s a development worth watching.

Stay tuned.