Will Warren, a rookie pitcher for the Yankees, has shown significant improvement in his performance after a rocky start to the season. Following some injuries within the Yankee staff, he stepped into a full-time role despite possibly needing more time in the minors. After a disappointing April with a 5.63 ERA, he rebounded with three strong outings, decreasing his ERA to 1.50. His success can be linked to a decision to fill the strike zone, diverging from the league’s trend of reduced fastball usage, aided by guidance from veteran Gerrit Cole.
We're living in an age where guys are throwing their fastballs harder than ever, but also less frequently. Leaguewide four-seam rate has dropped from 35 percent in 2018 to 31.8 percent so far in 2025.
The difference is pretty stark. It sounds funny to just say 'throw the ball over the plate,' but that's exactly what Warren's done, with the encouragement of mentor/unofficial assistant pitching coach Gerrit Cole.
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