Yankees’ Secret Weapon DOMINATES Spring Training – Is This Prospect the NEXT Michael King? ⚾️

**Yankees’ Rising Star Shines in Dominant Spring Shutout**
Will Warren, the New York Yankees’ No. 5 prospect, stole the spotlight in Wednesday’s 7-0 exhibition rout of the St. Louis Cardinals, tossing three perfect innings with four strikeouts. The 25-year-old right-hander, making his first spring start after a relief appearance earlier this month, continued his strong Grapefruit League campaign. Warren, who briefly debuted in 2023 with five starts for the Yankees, is emerging as a critical arm in a farm system recently depleted by injuries—including top pitching prospect Chase Hampton’s Tommy John surgery last week.

**Warren’s Redemption Arc?**
While Warren’s 2023 MLB stint (10.32 ERA, 0-3 record) appeared disastrous, advanced metrics painted a brighter picture. His 4.52 xERA and 29 strikeouts in 22.2 innings hinted at untapped potential, overshadowed by a few blowup outings. His Triple-A numbers last year (5.91 ERA in 109.2 innings) also fell short of his 2023 dominance, but his spring resurgence—sharp command, deceptive arsenal—has reignited optimism. Yankees fans are buzzing over comparisons to former Yankee Michael King, now a Padres starter, noting their nearly identical pitch mixes (four-seamer, sinker, sweeper, changeup) and similar builds. Warren leans more on his fastball (61.4% usage) compared to King’s off-speed-heavy approach, but refining his breaking pitches could elevate his game by limiting hard contact (37.7% groundball rate in 2023).

**2024 Outlook: When Will Warren Get His Shot?**
Despite Warren’s spring dominance, the Yankees’ rotation logjam (Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, Marcus Stroman, Nestor Cortes, Clarke Schmidt, and Luke Weaver) likely sends him back to Triple-A to start the season. However, injuries could fast-track his return: Schmidt is already battling back tightness, and the Yankees’ rotation depth has historically been tested. While the club may hesitate to shift Warren to a bullpen role long-term—prioritizing his development as a starter—his elite prospect status ensures he’ll remain a key call-up candidate. For now, Warren’s focus is proving his 2023 struggles were a fluke, and his early spring performances suggest the Yankees’ patience could pay off big in 2024.