Warren displays 'nasty stuff,' K's four in scoreless spring start
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TAMPA, Fla. -- Austin Wells¡¯ spring debut was initially scheduled for later in the week, but the Yankees catcher talked his way into the lineup on Wednesday, expressing a desire to see right-hander Will Warren in action.
¡°I think he¡¯s going to be an important part of the team,¡± Wells said of Warren, who tossed three hitless innings in the Yankees¡¯ 7-0 Grapefruit League victory over the Cardinals at George M. Steinbrenner Field. ¡°He¡¯s got really nasty stuff, so I just wanted to try to get on the same page with him.¡±
Warren struck out four and did not walk a batter in a 35-pitch outing, showcasing his sinker (12), sweeper (10) and four-seamer (7).
¡°Getting ahead is the biggest thing,¡± Warren said. ¡°Looking back at some stuff last year, I was always fighting back [in the count]. These are the greatest hitters in the world, so when you¡¯re setting it up for them to have success, it¡¯s hard to pitch. It¡¯s just getting ahead and attacking.¡±
He also mixed in three changeups and three curveballs, the latter pitch representing an offering Warren has restored to his repertoire this spring. Wells said the curve could be ¡°a freeze pitch¡± for Warren against left-handed hitters, showing a different shape than the rest of his pitch mix.
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¡°I threw it for the first two seasons I was with the Yankees, then we kind of got away from it,¡± Warren said. ¡°Clarke [Schmidt] has had success with him, so having a similar pitch arsenal, you see the success he has against lefties. That¡¯s what we¡¯re leaning toward.¡±
The 25-year-old Warren was hit hard in his first taste of the big leagues last season, when he posted an 0-3 record and 10.32 ERA across six games (five starts).
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Though he pitched to a 5.91 ERA in 23 starts for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Warren did exhibit swing-and-miss stuff, registering 136 strikeouts against 39 walks in 109 2/3 innings.
¡°I feel like he continues to get better,¡± manager Aaron Boone said. ¡°He¡¯s got the stuff to do it. I just want to continue to see him make strides, which has been encouraging.¡±
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Pitching in
Marcus Stroman and his HDMH (Height Doesn¡¯t Measure Heart) Foundation announced Wednesday that it will contribute $50,000 to the community-serving work of the Assistance League of Los Angeles.
The funds will support programs helping impoverished children and families throughout Los Angeles, including those affected by the January wildfires.
Stroman recently revealed that he lost his Malibu, Calif., home in the Palisades Fire. He said the donation ¡°will go a long way within the organization as they continue to distribute essential items at schools and organizations to those most in need.¡±
¡°This is a really special gift from Marcus, as he personally experienced significant losses due to the L.A. wildfires, along with thousands of other Los Angeles residents,¡± said Greg Kovacs, CEO of the Assistance League of Los Angeles.
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No update
Boone said there was ¡°still nothing to report¡± regarding designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton, who traveled to New York this week due to what the manager described as a personal issue.
Stanton has been unable to perform baseball activities this spring due to pain in both elbows that dates to last season, recently saying that he had not swung a bat in about a month. Stanton is questionable to be ready for Opening Day.