Yankees pitcher Will Warren's recent scoreless outing from the bullpen against the Padres offered a preview of his potential role in the upcoming postseason. Warren pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings, a performance that manager Aaron Boone noted could become a significant asset for the team in late-season games and into October.
"It was good to see him come into a situation that’s not totally familiar and perform," Boone said. Warren acknowledged feeling "a little gassed" initially, which led to walking the first batter he faced. However, he quickly settled in, with help from catcher Austin Wells and advice from Max Fried to maintain an aggressive approach with a reliever's mentality.
Warren's stuff appeared to gain a slight edge in the shorter outing, with his pitch velocity increasing by approximately one mile per hour across the board. He noted that this uptick in velocity was also present in his last start against the Red Sox, where he pitched seven innings of one-run ball after making some adjustments.
Despite the successful cameo, Warren identified the need to refine his pregame routine for potential relief appearances. He expressed a willingness to embrace any role assigned to him if he transitions to the bullpen for the playoffs. "Whatever role I’m in, I’ll embrace it," Warren stated.
In other team news, Anthony Volpe was recognized as the International League Player of the Week. His performance with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre included a .524 batting average, three home runs, and an OPS of 1.711 over six games.