Will Warren’s Rookie Season Review
Will Warren joined the Yankees’ spring training as their seventh starter. Fast forward through 33 starts, and his rookie season has officially come to an end.
It wasn’t always easy, but Warren proved to be a reliable part of the Yankees’ rotation, showcasing impressive durability throughout the season.
In his most recent outing, he gave up four runs over five innings and was hit hard by two home runs. Still, he walked away with a win, concluding the season with a 4.44 ERA and 171 strikeouts.
“As a starter, I think I can pitch every five days, get out there, throw innings, and give these guys the chance to win as deep as possible in the game,” Warren expressed. “It’s quite significant that, out of 33 starts—there’s Max [Fried] with 32 and Carlos [Rodón] with 33—we all managed to stay healthy through the whole season. That’s something I’m really proud of.”
Warren’s achievement of making at least 33 starts has placed him among a select group—just the third Yankees rookie to reach this milestone in the last 17 years.
Manager Aaron Boone highlighted Warren’s performance, saying, “It’s really impressive, and he’s not done yet. If you’d told us at the start of the year that he would make 33 starts, pitch 160 innings, and strike out roughly 10 batters per nine innings, despite facing some challenges… he’s done some really great things and has been a key player in our rotation.”
As for his role in the postseason, it remains uncertain. Many believe he might slot into the bullpen rather than starting every five days. Warren himself commented, “Ultimately, I just want to win. I’m open to whatever it takes.”
His spot in the playoff rotation might be influenced by the rise of Cam Schlittler, who is poised to take on the role of the Yankees’ third starter in October.
“I was really impressed with his mentality,” Boone said about Schlittler. “He’s very self-aware and holds himself accountable. He genuinely seeks to improve and elevate his game.”
Camilo Doval had a standout performance, keeping a scoreless streak alive over his last eight innings. The bullpen has shown impressive strength, not allowing a run in their last 19 and two-thirds innings.
In other team news, Giancarlo Stanton set a new single-season MLB record with his home run during the first inning of a recent game, bringing the team’s total to 48, surpassing the 2023 Braves.
Lastly, Aaron Judge finished the season with the second most popular jersey in MLB, closely trailing Shohei Ohtani. No other Yankees made it into the top 20 jersey sales.
