Yankees’ Will Warren (10 K’s) has discovered a magic potion | Klapisch

NEW YORK – The realization hit Will Warren midway through the fourth inning, when the Rangers kept swinging and missing, the strikeouts were piling up and the PC Richards whistle was on a steady repeat over the Yankee Stadium PA system.

Warren wasn’t just picking up outs, he was dominating hitters in a way pitchers daydream about. The rookie would later say, “my whole career has been based on early, weak contact” but a more candid response was coming moments later.

Warren, after all, recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts in the Yankees’ 5-2 win over Texas on Tuesday. He’s whiffed 34 in his last 22.2 innings and is allowing the front office to re-consider plans for the trade deadline.

Until recently, the assumption is that GM Brian Cashman would need to pick up another starter for the stretch run. Luis Gil won’t be back until mid-late July, Marcus Stroman is in no-man’s land and, let’s face it, how much longer can Ryan Yarbrough be counted on as a gimmick?

But maybe it’s time to re-calculate. What if Warren is really this good? What if he’s able to consistently last into the sixth or seventh inning – a realm that has mostly eluded Clarke Schmidt?

Drop Warren into the No. 3 slot behind Max Fried and Carlos Rodon, give Schmidt more breathing room as the No. 4 and maybe the Yankees can buy enough time until Gil is healthy.

All this because Warren is discovering the gold mine of the almighty strikeout.

“There’s definitely something special about throwing the ball by hitters,” he said. “I mean, if I could, I’d love to get three strikeouts on nine pitches every inning. But that’s obviously not going to happen.”

Plan B over the last four starts has been to “win the race to two strikes,” Warren said.

Get there, and he becomes an assassin.

There are five pitches in Warren’s arsenal, including a four and two-seam fastball, a sweeper, curveball and change-up. He’s not the Yankees’ hardest thrower, but a clean delivery, and ability to mask his weapons are a plus.

Most everything looks the same coming out of Warren’s hand. That’s the difference between a rookie who’s stuck in the minors and ones like Warren who’ve made it to The Show.

But there’s one other component that’s changed everything about Warren’s career path. It’s the no-tech asset called self-confidence.

“It’s that next wave of execution that we’re starting to see more and more of,” said Aaron Boone, referring to Warren.

“Will’s stuff really plays up and he’s gaining confidence. He knows he’s got different ways to beat you and different ways to get you out.”

Case in point was Warren’s showdown in what was then a 1-0 game in the sixth inning. With one out, Wyatt Langford walked, followed by consecutive bloop singles by Josh Jung and Adolis Garcia.

The Rangers hadn’t exactly roughed up Warren – they’re batting .217 this month – but the bases were nevertheless loaded.

Warren was at 96 pitches. No one would’ve argued if Boone came to the mound, patted the rookie on the shoulder and told him it was time to close up shop.

But the manager has a growing belief in Warren as a late-season difference maker. This was the perfect time to put that theory to the test. Instead of going to the bullpen. Boone let Warren go one-on-one with Marcus Semien.

It was actually a safe experiment on Boone’s part. Semien, 34, is a shell of his former self, batting only .174 this season. Warren had youth and cockiness on his side, not to mention the overriding incentive:

Prove to the Yankees he could handle pressure the third time through an opponent’s batting order.

“I liked the match-up,” is what Boone later explained, talking copious notes as Warren cut Semien into little pieces.

The at-bat lasted five pitches, three sinkers and a sweeper before a final sinker that froze Semien for strike three. It also happened to be Warren’s fastest pitch of the night.

His work was done. Boone summoned Mark Leiter from the bullpen, allowing Warren to walk off the mound to a thunderous standing ovation from the Stadium crowd.

The fans have officially fallen in love with the kid. If you prefer to reserve judgment a little longer, fine. The Rangers are no one’s idea of a powerhouse.

But pay close attention when Warren faces the Dodgers next weekend, in what could be a World Series preview.

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Unless there’s a radical change in the American League’s level of play, the Yankees are increasingly likely to bury the East. It’s only a matter of time.

The Bombers have a good chance to run the table on the rest of the AL, thanks to upgrades from the 2024 roster and the weakness throughout the league.

One scout I spoke to recently called the Yankees “a ticking time bomb” that’s nine games over .500 for the first time this season. And Boone’s crew isn’t even at full strength.

With the eventual return of Gil and Giancarlo Stanton, the Yankees could field their most complete roster since the 2009 championship season.

Premature, you say? Fine. We’ll wait that out, too. Bet whatever’s in store for the Yankees, Warren and his Can Do confidence will be in the thick of it.

I don’t think I’m wrong about that.

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Bob Klapisch may be reached at bklapisch@njadvancemedia.com.