WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The four-hour-plus bus ride across the state from Tampa didn’t seem to bother Will Warren at all.
The Yankees right-hander tossed four solid innings Saturday night in New York's 3-0 loss to the Nationals at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches.
Warren allowed an unearned run on two hits and three walks and registered three strikeouts in his third start of Spring Training. He exited the game after throwing 50 pitches, 37 for strikes.
“He was real efficient, another good one,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Warren’s outing, which followed an equally strong start on March 1 against the Phillies in Clearwater, when he tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings.
Warren cruised through the first three frames Saturday, during which he threw only 30 pitches. He said after the game that he was overall satisfied with the outing.
“My stuff wasn’t as sharp as I wanted it to be, especially there late,” said Warren, who lowered his ERA to a minuscule 0.87 this spring. “I was cruising early, it was a little frustrating because at that point I thought I could get to the fifth inning. But overall, everything was good. I could have been a little sharper, but it’s still Spring Training.”
One thing that pleased Warren was his success against the Nationals’ left-handed hitters he faced.
“I think today I got a bunch of lefties, threw the whole kitchen sink at them,” Warren said. “Today was one of those days where I felt great, everything looked sharp.”
Boone said he’s noticed a nice progression with Warren this spring.
“I think he’s been steady,” Boone said. “He’s taken his share of lumps along the way. But I feel he’s learned a ton, he’s grown a ton, learned how to slow the game down while also still just physically developing his craft. He’s had a really good camp.”
Waiting his time
The future certainly looks bright for Yanks top prospect George Lombard Jr., who's also ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 32 prospect in baseball. The versatile 20-year-old infielder continues to impress Boone, who praised Lombard prior to Saturday’s game against the Nationals.
“He’s swung the bat really well, but also played his normal phenomenal defense wherever he’s at,” Boone said of Lombard, who started at shortstop Saturday night. “He has an exciting future, [with] that versatility and defense, not just at shortstop. But he can really play shortstop.”
Boone said he likely will give Lombard the start at third base Sunday against the Mets in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Boone has especially been impressed with Lombard’s demeanor and the maturity level he’s reached at such a young age.
“I feel like I started to see this last spring,” Boone said. “The physicality, he’s impressive, and as a young man he keeps filling out. You notice another level of physicality I feel like each and every year. The last thing for him is continuing to develop, because he’s got power. Now just putting it all together.”
Speaking of youthful talent
Boone joined a loud chorus that swept the World Baseball Classic Friday night when high-schooler Joseph Contreras of Team Brazil got Aaron Judge to ground into an inning-ending double play during Team USA’s victory in pool play in Houston.
“We see a lot of impressive things in sports these days, but yeah, a 17-year-old running up against that lineup, it’s pretty cool,” Boone said of Contreras, who is committed to Vanderbilt and is the son of former MLB pitcher José Contreras.