Importance Score: 20 / 100 🔵
Yankees Right-Hander Will Warren Set for Season Debut
New York Yankees pitching prospect Will Warren is poised to make his season debut against the Diamondbacks, aiming for a more impactful performance than his brief major league stint last year. After concluding his previous season with an elevated 10.32 ERA, Warren is expected to bring a refined and more commanding presence to the mound this Tuesday. Injuries within the Yankees’ pitching rotation have created an opportunity for the 25-year-old to demonstrate his growth and secure a valuable role this season.
Opportunity Arises Amidst Rotation Injuries
Injuries to key pitchers Gerrit Cole, Luis Gil, and Clarke Schmidt have paved the way for Warren to begin the season in the starting rotation. However, beyond opportunity, Warren needed to demonstrate during spring training that he had learned from prior struggles. The Yankees organization and Warren himself are confident that his past experiences have been beneficial for his development.
Warren’s Spring Training Confidence
“I felt much more assured this spring when executing different pitches,” Warren stated following spring training. “Last year, doubts sometimes arose regarding pitch selection against certain hitters. This spring, my approach was different. When considering my four-seam fastball, it was simply, ‘Here it is, let’s see how you handle it.’ This shift in mindset, I believe, has been crucial.”
Refined Pitching Arsenal
Warren has also focused on enhancing his changeup and reintroduced a curveball to his pitching repertoire. These adjustments are designed to provide him with additional options when facing left-handed batters and to diversify his overall attack strategy on the mound.
Focus on Early Count Success
Another area of emphasis for Warren is establishing an advantage early in pitch counts. Falling behind in counts plagued him last season, and he is determined to be more aggressive and efficient from the first pitch.
Aaron Judge’s Confidence in Warren
“I’m eager to observe Will Warren’s contributions this year,” said Aaron Judge. “Each time I watch him, with every start, he seems to improve incrementally, consistently unveiling something new. He’s progressively gaining confidence, which is paramount at the major league level. It’s about having the self-assurance to perform and trust your abilities.”
Dominic Smith Re-Signs with Yankees on Minor League Contract
The Yankees have re-signed veteran hitter Dominic Smith to a minor league contract, further bolstering their left-handed hitting depth at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Smith had impressed during spring training as a non-roster invitee. Despite a strong camp, when Smith exercised his opt-out clause on March 21, the Yankees did not initially add him to the major league roster due to an existing surplus of left-handed hitters.
Yankees Announce Minor League Roster Assignments
With the Triple-A season already underway, the Yankees have announced the assignments for the remainder of their minor league affiliates. Several notable prospects are set to begin their seasons at various levels:
Notable Minor League Assignments
- Double-A Somerset: OF Spencer Jones, C Rafael Flores, RHP Cam Schlittler
- High-A Hudson Valley: SS George Lombard Jr., RHP Ben Hess, RHP Bryce Cunningham, RHP Carlos Lagrange, RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz, LHP Kyle Carr
- Single-A Tampa: SS Roderick Arias (Top Prospect)
Aaron Judge Named American League Player of the Week
Aaron Judge has been recognized as the American League Player of the Week. This distinction is the latest in a series of accolades for Judge, who earned the honor three times in each of his MVP-caliber seasons.
Judge’s Impressive Early Season Performance
Over the initial three games of the season, Judge demonstrated exceptional offensive prowess, hitting 6-for-11 (.545) with four home runs, two doubles, and driving in 11 runs.
Yankees’ Volpe Among Top Jersey Sellers
The latest MLB top-selling jersey rankings reveal familiar names in the top positions: Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Juan Soto, Mookie Betts, and Aaron Judge. However, another Yankee has broken into the top 20, with Anthony Volpe securing the No. 19 spot in jersey sales.