Yankees’ Will Warren Aims to Redeem Season in Opener vs. Diamondbacks

NEW YORK, N.Y. — Will Warren is set to make his season debut for the New York Yankees on Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, aiming to bounce back from a tough last season where he recorded a 10.32 ERA in six appearances.

After injuries sidelined key pitchers Gerrit Cole, Luis Gil, and Clarke Schmidt, the 25-year-old right-hander has seized the opportunity to secure a spot in the rotation this year. The Yankees believe Warren has matured during the offseason, which could translate into effective performances on the mound.

“I don’t think there was any doubt in my mind [this spring] when throwing certain pitches,” Warren said at the end of camp. “Last year, sometimes the struggle came when I was like, ‘All right, this guy could handle this, so maybe I need to go away from that.’ I feel like this spring, it was like, ‘Four-seam fastball? Here it is, let’s see what you can do with it.’ I think that’s been the difference-maker.”

In preparation for the season, Warren has refined his changeup and reintroduced a curveball to his arsenal, providing him with more options against left-handed hitters. He aims to improve his early count positioning to avoid falling behind, which proved detrimental last season.

“I’m excited to see what Will Warren can do this year,” Yankees captain Aaron Judge said. “He’s a guy that every time I see him, he continues to get a little better, show something a little new. He’s continuing to gain that confidence.”

In roster news, the Yankees announced on Monday that they have re-signed Dominic Smith to a minor league deal, increasing their left-handed hitting depth at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Smith, a former Met, impressed during spring training but was not added to the major league roster due to an already left-handed-heavy lineup.

The Yankees released their minor league assignments earlier this week. Notable players include outfielder Spencer Jones, catcher Rafael Flores, and right-handed pitcher Cam Schlittler, all starting at Double-A Somerset. Shortstop Roderick Arias, the top-ranked Yankees prospect, will begin the season at Single-A Tampa.

Additionally, Aaron Judge was named the American League Player of the Week after an impressive start to the season, hitting 6-for-11 with four home runs, two doubles, and 11 RBIs. The reigning MVP is also featured among the top-selling jerseys in Major League Baseball, alongside well-known names like Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman, with rookie Anthony Volpe breaking into the top 20.

Moving forward, Carlos Rodón, the Yankees’ Opening Day starter, has unveiled a new sinker pitch as he aims to diversify his pitching repertoire. Despite throwing only four sinkers during his spring finale against the Tigers, pitching coach Matt Blake believes this addition could keep batters guessing and improve Rodón’s overall effectiveness.

“Just another wrinkle to his arsenal — not being as predictable with just the four-seam and slider,” Blake explained. “Looking at adding a one-seam to his mix and see where it goes.”

Clarke Schmidt also attempted to adapt his sinker into a one-seam fastball. However, he will begin the season on the injured list while building up his pitch count. Rodón is set to pitch against the Brewers on Thursday at Yankee Stadium.

As the season opens, Yankees players have expressed excitement about the atmosphere at Yankee Stadium. Cody Bellinger shared his anticipation for Thursday’s game, saying, “It’s probably going to be a whole other level in The Bronx.”

The Yankees plan to hold a moment of silence before the game in honor of Miller Gardner, the 14-year-old son of former player Brett Gardner, who passed away last week. Andy Pettitte will throw the ceremonial first pitch.

Finally, the Yankees have made several injury-related roster moves, placing DJ LeMahieu (calf strain) and Giancarlo Stanton (elbow epicondylitis) on the 10-day injured list. Others, including Jonathan Loaisiga and Clarke Schmidt, are also sidelined, further challenging the team as they begin their season.