In Fort Myers, Florida, a conversation with a rival American League scout revealed high praise for Yankees’ prospect, Will Warren. The scout, with a background in the major leagues, highlighted Warren’s remarkable competitiveness. He noted that Warren remains unshaken even in the toughest situations, maintaining his composure when the pressure mounts.
Warren faced a significant challenge on Sunday, showcasing his mental toughness. Despite being a contender for the Yankees’ fifth starter position, he experienced his most challenging outing of the spring training season against the Red Sox. The game began on a sour note for Warren when Jarren Duran of the Red Sox reached base due to an error, leading to a difficult first inning where the Red Sox scored nine runs. Despite this, Warren’s performance should not be judged solely on this game.
The Yankees are looking beyond the rough start. Warren’s ability to bounce back, throwing two scoreless innings after the initial setback, has positioned him as a strong candidate for the fifth starter role. Manager Aaron Boone praised Warren’s resilience, noting that overcoming such challenges reveals a player’s true character.
After a tough first inning where Warren was pulled after facing seven batters, he returned to the mound with determination. Thanks to MLB’s spring training rules, he was able to come back and strike out two of the three batters he faced in the second inning, and continued to perform well in the third.
Another scout admired Warren’s handling of the first inning, emphasizing that the errors did not deter him. Boone shared a moment with Warren, telling him that this experience against the Red Sox would be a memorable one, signifying the start of a promising career.
Warren, reflecting on the game, emphasized the importance of resilience and using one’s abilities to recover quickly from setbacks. Meanwhile, other pitchers like Clayton Beeter, Luke Weaver, Cody Poteet, and Luis Gil are also vying for a spot, with Gil gaining attention for his recent performances.
In other Yankees news, DJ LeMahieu experienced a scare after fouling a ball off his foot, but X-rays returned negative. Aaron Judge continues his recovery from an abdominal issue, and Tommy Kahnle progresses towards a return from a shoulder injury.
Erik Boland, who has been covering the Yankees since 2009, provided this report.