PHILADELPHIA — Will Warren called his MLB debut on Tuesday a “dream come true.”
The 25-year-old right-hander was called up to the Yankees’ starting rotation after Gerrit Cole was sidelined with full-body soreness and learned of the news in a phone call from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre manager Shelley Duncan.
Because it happened on trade deadline day, Warren didn’t know what to expect.
“My first thought was, ‘Man, what’s going on?'” said Warren, who is ranked the Yankees’ No. 7 prospect by MLB Pipeline. “If you know Shelley Duncan, you know he was messing with me.”
Instead, Warren headed to Citizens Bank Park to face the Phillies.
“I couldn’t have asked for more,” Warren said.
He overcame a tough first inning, in which he gave up one run, and an even worse second inning, in which Austin Hayes hit a three-run homer just over the left field wall to put the Yankees behind 4-1.
But Warren bounced back, retiring 12 of the next 14 batters he faced until the Yankees won, 7-6, after 12 innings.
“I don’t know if I was nervous,” Warren said of the start. “Maybe it was more of a shock. I looked around and said, ‘Oh my gosh, this stadium is bigger than I thought it would be.'”
Warren was able to calm down.
“It all comes down to one mistake,” Warren said of Hayes’ pitch. “He caught it. These things happen here. You just have to keep pitching.”
Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s three-run homer saved Warren from the loss, and the Yankees fought their way to victory in 12 innings.
It’s been an interesting road to the major leagues this season for the 25-year-old Warren.
He was mentioned as a candidate to take Cole’s starting rotation spot during spring training before Luis Gil took the position.
Warren then posted an 8.53 ERA through his first 10 starts at Triple-A this season.
Warren is ranked as the Yankees’ second-best pitching prospect behind Chase Hampton, a ranking that has risen in part because the Yankees sacrificed a number of young pitchers in recent trades.
He has pitched well recently, performing well in three of his last four starts at Triple-A before being promoted on Tuesday.
He was returned to Triple-A after the game.
“He’s a confident kid,” Boone said before the game. “We like what he’s got and we like the way he plays. He’s had some bumps this year. [at Triple-A]”But he’s also been dominant in a lot of games. … He has all the tools he needs to go out there and be successful.”
Pitching coach Matt Brake said the team has been impressed with Warren’s attitude and how he’s bounced back from a tough time in the minor leagues.
“He’s gotten over his early struggles and he’s adapted,” Blake said. “I feel like he’ll be OK in this environment.”
