In what is now one of the most talked-about moments of the week in baseball, New York Yankees pitching prospect Will Warren has ignited fierce backlash — but not just from rival Yankees fans. Surprisingly, it’s the Boston Red Sox faithful who are fuming the loudest.

During a press interview following a minor league rehab start, Warren was asked about his long-term goals with the Yankees. His answer was as confident as it was controversial:

“I want to replace and completely surpass the legendary Mariano Rivera, because I have more possibilities than he did back then.”

The statement, delivered with a calm tone but firm conviction, quickly exploded online. Yankees supporters were split — some applauded his self-belief, while others cringed at the audacity of naming Rivera, a five-time World Series champion and the all-time MLB saves leader.

But in an unexpected twist, the loudest wave of anger came from Boston Red Sox fans, who viewed the comment as a blatant show of Yankee arrogance and a disrespect to the game’s history.

One Red Sox fan posted:

“Mariano tormented us for years. Now some kid thinks he can just ‘replace’ him? It’s pure Yankee ego all over again. The rivalry never rests.”

Another wrote:

“This isn’t just about the Yankees. It’s about respecting legends. Rivera isn’t just a Yankee great — he’s a baseball monument.”

Red Sox Nation remembers Mariano Rivera all too well — the closer who slammed the door on countless comeback hopes, particularly during the late 90s and early 2000s when the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry was at its most vicious. For a 24-year-old pitcher who hasn’t thrown a single pitch in the majors to casually declare his intent to replace and surpass Rivera struck many as tone-deaf, if not outright insulting.

Even some within the Yankees organization appeared uneasy with the phrasing. A team insider told reporters off the record:

“Confidence is great, but we’re very careful when invoking a name like Mariano. He wasn’t just the best closer ever — he was the model of humility.”

Warren has yet to walk back his statement. When asked for clarification during a follow-up, he simply added:

“I respect Mariano, obviously. But if I’m not aiming to be the best, why am I even doing this?”

As the Yankees prepare for an upcoming series against the Red Sox, tensions between the fanbases have already begun to heat up — and Warren’s name is now firmly in the middle of it.

Whether he ever lives up to the lofty expectations he’s placed on himself remains to be seen. But one thing is certain:

The next time Will Warren steps onto a mound — especially at Fenway Park — all eyes will be on him.

This story is developing.