A week later, 51 to here in 2023. As we’ve done since the pandemic began, we’re starting our week by taking a stroll through social media to see what everyone’s favorite baseball team has been up to over the holidays so far is behind us and spring training is on the horizon.
The Cole Train gains another passenger
Congratulations go to Yankees ace Gerrit Cole and his wife Amy, who just welcomed their second child, Everett, into the world. The couple shared the heartwarming news on Amy’s Instagram earlier this week.
He already looks like a future Yankees ace.
Nasty Nestor prepares for the World Baseball Classic
This March, the World Baseball Classic returns after a six-year hiatus. Hosted by the World Baseball Softball Confederation and Major League Baseball, the international tournament usually takes place on a four-year cycle, similar to the Olympics, and was last scheduled to be held in 2021. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and the MLB lockout each postponed the tournament by a year.
Yankees starter Nestor Cortes has pledged to pitch for Team USA this spring, and with the start of spring training and the WBC in his sights, he’s already started his pitching program.
Bronxville kid supports local basketball team
The players don’t spend anything, of course Everyone their time to prepare for the season. Center fielder Harrison Bader has become a fixture at Madison Square Garden after attending games December 7th (then Cortes joined), 21st Decemberand most recently on January 4th.
Harrison Bader was just shown on the Jumbotron and drank all his beer performatively. Big day for Knicks Game Ops.
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) January 5, 2023
So far the Knicks are 2-1 when the Horace Mann graduate is in the Garden, so maybe they should put him on the pitch more often?
Masahiro Tanaka welcomes Kodai Senga to New York
Masahiro Tanaka had an acclaimed career with the New York Yankees, becoming a fan favorite during his seven years in the Bronx. Japanese pitcher Kodai Senga signed a five-year contract with the New York Mets in December. However, their differing NYC affiliations didn’t stop the former Yankee from sitting down with Senga for dinner during a visit to New York City this week.
Obviously, this isn’t really a surprise – both players actually shared a dugout in 2021 as they were teammates on Team Japan during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Still, it’s nice to see Tanaka spending some time in New York. We miss you buddy.
Homer Bush is a FerryHawk
Homer Bush’s playing career largely predated my time. In fact, my only strong memory of him comes from being one of the few minor leagues in MVP Baseball 2004 and 2005 with an actual image rather than a randomly generated face or outline. He played in splits of seven seasons, winning a World Series ring (1998) and eventually retiring in 2005 due to hip injuries.
Over the past decade, he has built a fine coaching career, spending time as a hitting coach for the single-A Eugene Emeralds (2014) and director of youth baseball programs for the Texas Rangers (2016), most recently as manager of the Mahoning MLB Draft League Valley Scrapper (2022). Now he’s returning to the Big Apple once again, taking the reins of the Staten Island FerryHawks as their newest skipper.
Welcome home, Homer!
