The scoreboard won’t show the full story, and the crowd might not remember every pitch.
But for those who are really tuned in, Will Warren’s start Friday against the Athletics conveyed a message that was much louder than the score. Aaron Boone noticed a young pitcher rising to a new level of trust and responsibility.
Boone Sees Proof That Warren Belongs in the Team’s Rotation
At the post-game press conference, Boone commended Warren’s performance, pointing out the pitcher’s self-assurance and skill in dealing with challenges. He said, “I think part of that is his confidence, and he continues to get a little bit better. And he knows he belongs out there and knows that no matter what hitter is in, if he executes, he can win that battle. So I think he really, That’s cemented now with him.”
Aaron Boone lauded Will Warren’s ability to fight through adversity
“That’s an important part of a starting pitcher” pic.twitter.com/dWNPSkbJMp
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) June 28, 2025
“Look. But there’s no question that he’s gotten better at that. And that’s an important aspect. And that’s all control moments, slowing the game down, those clichés that you hear, but those are really important at this level for any athlete,” he added.
Warren backed up Boone’s concept of “control moments,” which is the unmeasurable skill of slowing down the game and performing well under stress.
Warren’s game against the Oakland Athletics started off rough. According to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News, Warren threw 36 pitches just to get through the first inning, walking three batters and striking out three. Things got so tense that the Yankees had Allan Winans warming up in the bullpen. But he managed to regain his composure, striking out former Yankee Gio Urshela with the bases loaded and getting out of the inning without any damage.
After getting through a tough first inning, Warren found his rhythm and pitched five scoreless innings, finishing with 100 pitches, seven strikeouts, four walks, and just two hits given up.
Boone later noted, “He’s probably two hitters away from being out of the game … He’s got the confidence and he’s got the stuff. He can get right out of that. He can get swing‑and‑miss in the strike zone, which he did.”
Warren himself credited a change in approach, admitting, “Tonight, I’m spraying the ball a little bit…let them put the ball in play.”
Warren’s standout game was a key part of his current hot streak: during his last four starts, he has achieved a 1.96 ERA, surrendered just five earned runs, and boasts a 4–0 record.
The game was part of the Yankees’ annual Fireworks Night, happening just before they head to Toronto for a short road trip. Warren was solid on the mound, and the offense chipped in just enough. Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a solo home run in the second inning, marking his 12th of the season, against former Yankees prospect Mitch Spence.
More runs were scored in the third and fourth innings, with Cody Bellinger knocking in a run with a single and DJ LeMahieu getting an RBI thanks to a catcher’s interference call.
Warren’s performance contributes to an encouraging trend for the Yankees’ rotation. Clarke Schmidt is lined up to start the following day against another ex-Yankee, JP Sears, who has been on a roll with three scoreless starts, indicating that the rotation is building momentum.