What transpired on Sunday with Will Warren against the Boston Red Sox wasn’t supposed to go that way. The young pitching prospect, seeking the coveted fifth spot as a starter in the Yankees’ rotation, had a rocky first inning, surrendering an enormous nine runs. Nothing else could count as a nightmare start. But then there came a surprising twist. Contrary to what one might think, given his tough outing, the 24-year-old actually bolstered his chances of making it to the starting rotation.

As per sources inside and outside the New York Yankees organization, Warren’s ability to handle adversity and “competitiveness“ seems to have caught manager Aaron Boone’s eyes for the rotation race. The fact that he “doesn’t get rattled, even when things are going to hell” turned out to be his strength. 

A Tale of Twists and Resurgence

First things first, Warren’s first inning was a disaster. The Red Sox teed off, making nine runs on six hits and two errors. But instead of breaking down and losing composure, Warren dug deep at what looked like “certainly a struggle, but kind of showed us who he was”. The next two innings, he eased in, pitched two scoreless frames, and struck out five batters. The Yankees’ coaching staff had set their eyes on him now. 

Boone added further as he grew particularly impressed with Warren’s ability to bounce back after a disastrous inning. Commending the young pitcher, he expressed, “I thought he was pretty sharp the rest of the way. It’s times like this where you learn even more about a guy. I think he’s really good. I think he’s really good right now.”

As much as he impressed the executives of the Yankees, Warren was not happy about the early onslaught. However, he was quick to look at the positive side – his ability to regroup. His words of wisdom reflected his focus. “You’re going to get hit in the mouth sometimes. “It’s all about how you come back from it… How can you get outs as quick as possible using the stuff you’ve got that day?” And that’s who Will Warren is. 

Read More: New York Yankees’ Highly-Anticipated Prospect Ready for 2024 Opportunity, Looks to Impact Winning Baseball

The Competition Heats After Sunday – Will Warren Against the Others

Though the Yanks had a bumpy start, evidently the RHP emerged as the favorite to land the fifth starter spot. But then, the competition still remains fiery. Clayton Beeter, another likely contender, had a less-than-stellar outing against the Red Sox. He allowed three runs in four innings. Additionally, pitchers like Luke Weaver, Cody Poteet, and Luis Gil are also in the mix. Given that these names are all great, choosing one would be a tough nut to crack. 

Read More: “He’s a Starter”: Yankees Have Found Rotation Depth in 25-Year-Old Prospect?

The Yankees’ rotation race is heating up. The ultimate criteria for testing would be how the potential candidates can withstand or rebound from a tough situation. Given his performance on Sunday, all eyes will be on Warren. Will he finally land the 5th spot?