Good-looking kids! Prospects Warren & Hampton impressive
TAMPA — While reporters waited to speak with Will Warren on Friday, the farmhand had his eyes focused on Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón.
The reigning Cy Young and twotime All-Star were messing around with a baseball at their lockers, which run perpendicular to Warren’s. As Cole and Rodón discussed pitch shapes, Warren paid close attention.
“I grew up watching all these guys, so it’s kind of surreal,” Warren said. “I’m just trying to learn and soak up as much information as I can.”
Added Chase Hampton, whose locker is next to Warren’s: “I’m kind of just keeping my head low and watching and not talking too much. Kind of just listening… Hopefully I get to tap into some of these older guys’ brains here soon.”
The Yankees certainly hope that Hampton and Warren, their top two pitching prospects, absorb information from the veterans around them. However, the two righties weren’t invited to big league camp just to study.
They’re also in Tampa to strut their stuff after enjoying successful 2023 campaigns across various levels. While Aaron Boone said that both pitchers could impact the major league team this year, Warren, 24, is closer after recording a 3.35 ERA and 149 strikeouts over 27 games (25 starts) and 129 innings between Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
“I would think he’s definitely in the mix at some point this year,” pitching coach Matt Blake recently told the Daily News. “Obviously, if health stays perfect for us, he may be the odd man out, but just with the way 162 games shake out, I’m sure his name will be called at some point.”
Hampton, 22, totaled a 3.63 ERA and 145 strikeouts over 20 starts and 106.2 innings between High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset last season, his first as a pro.
“I’m excited about their progress and definitely feel like those guys have bright futures,” Boone said of the duo.
Clayton Beeter, another top pitching prospect who is close with his contemporaries, is also trying to make some noise this spring. However, Warren and Hampton threw to live hitters on Friday, which is why Boone fielded a handful of questions about them.
Boone and his coaching staff watched closely as the neophytes threw on a back field at George M. Steinbrenner Field. So did several members of the Yankees’ front office, including Omar Minaya, Michael Fishman, Matt Ferry and Tim Naehring. Ron Guidry also attended.
“Today was the first time on the mound, so that’s a little more juice flowing with people out there,” said Warren, who felt his session went well.
Boone said that Warren is built up to roughly 38 pitches, while Hampton is slightly behind that.
The manager said that Warren’s sinker and slider are his “bread and butter.” He would like to see Warren further develop his changeup, four-seamer and cutter so that he can improve against lefties.
Hampton, meanwhile, has impressed with his mid-90s fastball, changeup and breaking ball profiles. He said that he’s working on improving his fastball and slider command this spring.
“I think it was just me being a competitor,” Hampton said of what he did last season to earn a camp invite. “And honestly just going out there and trying to win as much as possible and honestly trying to punch everybody out I see.”
Asked if he’s still trying to strike everyone out, Hampton replied, “100 percent.”
Boone added that Hampton and Warren are good athletes who can handle their position while remaining aware of the running game.
One thing Warren is not — at least as of now — is a reliever. If the Yankees’ projected rotation stays healthy, Warren would have an easier time making the team as a member of the bullpen. However, his name has frequently been one of the first mentioned when Yankees personnel have been asked which depth starters are next in line.
“You never know what can transpire. We’ve got six weeks until Opening Day, but I don’t see him in that role,” Boone said of the bullpen. “He’s a starter.”
Warren agreed with that assessment, but he made it known that he’s open to any role. He said his main objective this spring is “showing them what I’m capable of.”
And what might that be?
“I just feel like I can help the team,” Warren continued. “How high that ceiling is or any of that, I don’t know. I just want to get out there and show what I got.”