Will Warren Yankees adjustments aim to improve pitching against lefties. [Image Source: TROYRECORD]
DUNEDIN, Fla. — Will Warren is working through key pitching adjustments ahead of the 2026 season to strengthen his role with the New York Yankees. After a challenging 2025 that included a 4.44 ERA over 33 starts, Warren is focusing on refining his approach to left-handed hitters and improving consistency, aiming to help the Yankees overcome significant pitching injuries and compete at a high level.
Drawing parallels to pitcher Clarke Schmidt—who gained valuable experience after several seasons despite setbacks like a strained lat in early 2024—Warren is seeking to harness his workload from last year, which included 167 innings thrown, the heaviest in his career. With multiple starting pitchers sidelined, Warren’s ability to adjust will be crucial to the rotation’s success.
Challenges to Address From Past Performances
Warren’s struggles during the 2025 season centered primarily on effectiveness against left-handed batters and controlling damage in high-pressure innings. Although he managed to contain damage in many outings, allowing three or fewer earned runs in 24 starts, certain games against tough opponents like the Dodgers, Blue Jays, and Red Sox were marred by early runs that disrupted his rhythm and the team’s momentum.
According to Yankees manager Aaron Boone, maintaining emotional control on the mound is a vital skill for starters like Warren, especially when faced with adversity. Boone noted,
Image of: Will Warren
“Just not letting things snowball, when you get a little emotional out there and you want to go harder and you want to go faster — no. You got to execute better,”
adding,
“So learning how to do it, how to be, what’s that fine line of having an edge to you and a fire to you but especially as a starting pitcher, also being emotionally really steady to handle all the things that come your way in the course of the game. He’s done a good job of that, but that’s the trick for a lot of these guys.”
New Pitching Mechanics and Strategic Moves to Improve Control
One of Warren’s principal adjustments involves changing his position on the pitching rubber. Moving from the first-base side to the third-base side of the rubber—where he pitched during his college days—he believes this will sharpen his attack angle, benefiting his delivery to both right- and left-handed hitters.
Warren explained,
“I think it’s helped the attack angle [be] a little sharper,”
continuing,
“Righties, it feels like I’m coming at them, lefties might feel like the ball is just way out there, especially backdoor sweeper, backdoor curveball. And then just making it super sharp going into them. I think that’s the biggest thing we’re working on is just comfortability.”
He is particularly targeting left-handers by combining a wider array of pitches and focusing on getting ahead in counts to keep hitters off balance.
Comparisons and Mentorship From Clarke Schmidt
Pitcher Clarke Schmidt, who once faced challenges similar to Warren’s early career, acknowledged Warren’s developmental path. Schmidt highlighted the importance of confidence and accumulating experience:
“You don’t really feel like you belong in this league until you’re a couple years in, until you start to feel like you’ve done some type of thing, whether it’s posting [pitching every five days] or having success,”
and added,
“So I think that definitely plays a factor.”
Schmidt, who improved dramatically between his 2023 and 2025 seasons, sees potential in Warren’s refinement efforts, stating,
“I see those similarities with Will, where he’s trying to get better with lefties and cut down on some of the walks,”
and,
“Then you start to clean up the details and iron out all that stuff and then your game just leaps.”
Recent Performance Indicates Progress
Warren’s most recent outing against the Toronto Blue Jays showcased encouraging signs of growth. Despite facing three left-handed hitters early in the game and allowing hits, he recovered by retiring the lefty batters Daulton Varsho and Jesus Sanchez consecutively to close his 2 ²/₃ innings of one-run ball, striking out four. This performance contributed to the Yankees’ narrow 8-7 victory.
Warren himself reflected on this comfort level, saying after the game,
“I think it’s comfort level, honestly,”
and,
“I know that my stuff plays, based on 33 starts and 170ish innings. It’s not trying to do too much.”
He emphasized,
“Be Will Warren. Will Warren’s good enough to get people out.”
Significance of Healthy Spring and What Lies Ahead
Starting the 2026 season healthy is an essential objective for Warren as the Yankees face early-season absences in their rotation, including Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Clarke Schmidt. Warren’s increased innings in 2025 and offseason conditioning have left him feeling physically ready to handle his role.
With Warren making key changes to his mechanics and strategy, the Yankees are counting on him to limit big innings and improve consistency against top teams in one of baseball’s most competitive divisions, the AL East. His progress also matters in the broader context of the Yankees’ pitching staff stability and potential contention in the coming season.
