Mike Yastrzemski didn’t anticipate to be again at Fenway Park this season. His San Francisco Giants made the journey east to New England final yr, and this June they hosted the Pink Sox at Oracle Park. Barring an inconceivable World Sequence matchup, Yastrzemski wouldn’t play at Fenway once more till someday in 2026.
However then final Thursday the grandson of Pink Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski was traded to the Kansas Metropolis Royals, who simply so occurred to have a highway journey to Boston developing in a matter of days.
Lower than per week after leaving the one residence he’d ever identified in skilled baseball, Yastrzemski is again at his hometown ballpark for this week’s three-game sequence between the Pink Sox and Royals. The 34-year-old Andover native received the beginning at proper discipline in Monday’s opener, going 2 for 4 with two doubles.
“I’m fired as much as be again,” Yastrzemski informed the Herald pregame on Monday. “It’s all the time enjoyable to play right here, didn’t anticipate to have the ability to get right here this yr. Simply to be again in New England, it’s all the time a enjoyable time for me.”
Now in his seventh yr as a giant leaguer, Yastrzemski was traded minutes earlier than Thursday’s commerce deadline in alternate for minor league right-hander Yunior Marte. Yastrzemski is because of change into a free agent for the primary time in his MLB profession this offseason, however within the meantime he’ll look to fortify a Royals staff that’s at present hovering round .500 on the periphery of the AL Wild Card race.
Yastrzemski stated the commerce caught him off guard, however he’s additionally excited for the chance he’s been given in Kansas Metropolis.
“It was a bit of stunning, however on the identical time actually thrilling as a result of I felt like this was a corporation that basically wished me right here,” Yastrzemski stated. “To have that feeling is actually gratifying, as a result of they’re seeing there’s one thing in me that they wished on this staff, so I’m completely satisfied to be right here and attempt to contribute.”
Previous to the commerce Yastrzemski was batting .231 with eight residence runs, 28 RBI and a .685 OPS with the Giants, the group with whom he debuted at age 28 again in 2019 after grinding for eight years within the minor leagues. Since then he has established himself as a dependable MLB starter and can end the season with greater than $28 million in profession earnings.
Despite the fact that his time in San Francisco is over, Yastrzemski stated he’ll “endlessly be grateful” for his expertise with the Giants.
“It was unbelievable, it altered the course of my life,” Yastrzemski stated. “I wasn’t essentially heading on the trail for a six-plus yr large league profession at that time. It was a gaggle filled with unbelievable folks that really cared and tried to get the perfect out of me each single day.”
