ATLANTA — Mike Yastrzemski’s connection to the Braves extends past any interactions his grandfather might need had with fellow Corridor of Famer Hank Aaron. It additionally extends past the truth that two of his childhood idols had been Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones.
And his dad’s first Minor League supervisor was a 28-year-old former catcher named Brian Snitker, who was guiding the Braves’ Single-A Durham membership throughout that summer season of 1984.
“My dad performed within the Braves’ system again within the day,” Yastrzemski mentioned. “Any time the Braves got here via Fenway [Park], we would at all times go and say hello to Bobby Cox, as a result of my dad knew him. So, I’ve these long-term recollections of rooting for the Braves from afar.”
Together with rising up in Massachusetts, Yastrzemski can be the grandson of Boston sports activities legend Carl Yastrzemski. So he was clearly baptized a Purple Sox fan. However he counted a signed Cox glove as certainly one of his most treasured childhood recollections.
So it’s straightforward to know why Yastrzemski was thrilled with the chance he gained on Wednesday night time when he signed a two-year, $23 million cope with the Braves. The Royals’ try to re-sign the 35-year-old veteran was trumped by childhood recollections and championship aspirations.
“You solely have so many probabilities to win,” Yastrzemski mentioned. “That was the very first thing that drew me right here, the sturdy dedication to consistently making an attempt to win a championship. As a participant, how may you need the rest?”
The Braves have enhanced their 2026 World Collection hopes over the previous two days. They fortified their bullpen by signing Robert Suarez to a three-year, $45 million deal on Thursday. This transfer was introduced about 16 hours after the group revealed Yastrzemski had signed his deal.
Yastrzemski will primarily play towards right-handed pitchers, and his main roles will probably be to function both the designated hitter or the left fielder. He can play every of the outfield spots. However a majority of his defensive begins will are available in left as a result of he’s a greater defensive possibility than Jurickson Profar.
Is that this how Yastrzemski expects for use?
“They tried to clarify every little thing about how they’d like to make use of me, and being as well mannered as I may, I attempted to chop them off and informed them, ‘Look, I do not care. I need to be part of a company that wins.’ With them displaying me the dedication [of] a two-year assured deal, that provides me the flexibility to 100% purchase in, be one of the best teammate I can and attempt to discover any given manner to assist them out.”
The left-handed Yastrzemski had an .808 OPS towards right-handed pitchers and a .427 OPS towards lefties this previous season. His energy elevated after he was traded from the Giants to Kansas Metropolis in July. He had a .355 slugging proportion in 372 plate appearances with San Francisco and a .500 slugging proportion in 186 plate appearances with the Royals.
Yastrzemski will come to Atlanta hoping to increase that late-season success whereas additionally realizing a few of these childhood desires he developed whereas carrying that Cox-signed glove round.
“It was this darkish brown leather-based glove that Bobby signed for me the primary time I met him,” Yastrzemski mentioned. “Once I was a younger child, I used to be so obsessive about it. I would sleep with it. I used it till I went to highschool. I used to be like, ‘I am not eliminating this factor.’”
