With postseason hopes falling apart, the New York Yankees expanded their roster in September and promoted top prospects to get them used to major league life. Catcher Austin Wells was one of them and emerged as an instant hit. But his rise to stardom meant that Kyle Higashioka would lose his place.
Catcher Kyle Higahioka was traded to the San Diego Padres this off-season as a part of a seven-player swap for Juan Soto. His 8-year tenure with the Yankees ended abruptly as the catcher still had a year left on his deal. However, even before departure, Kyle ensured Yanks’ future was safeguarded as he groomed Wells before leaving.
Kyle Higashioka Passed The Baton To Austin Wells Before Leaving For Padres
As Austin Wells made his way into the big leagues in late September of 2023, veteran catcher Kyle Higashioka knew in his conscience that his days at the Bronx were numbered. Wells replaced him for the better half of September and left an evident mark. However, the internal competition didn’t adversely affect Kyle’s relationship with Wells. In the latest interview, Wells revealed that Higashioka was, in fact, one of his best mates last year, and he helped him get used to the major league life. The veteran catcher agreed to Wells’ comments, saying he wanted to pass the baton to Austin and ensure that the Yankees’ future stays in safe hands.
Kyle Higashioka also added that he was mentally prepared to leave the franchise during the off-season as all signs pointed towards that direction. While parting ways with the Yankees after 8 years wasn’t easy, Kyle has no bad blood. He understands that nothing is permanent in baseball, and he is grateful for the time he spent in the Bronx with a talented bunch of guys. “It felt like they wanted to move in a different direction, which, that’s just baseball,” said Higashioka on his move to Padres. It turns out that the veteran catcher’s worst fears came true when the New York Yankees traded him to the San Diego Padres for Juan Soto. The package involved Michael King, Jhony Brito, Randy Vasquez, and Drew Thorpe as well. Nevertheless, Kyle has made peace with his reality and expects Austin Wells to achieve success as the Yanks’ new regular catcher.
Aaron Judge Climbs Up The Ladder In Historic Yankees History
New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge’s resurgence in May has been nothing short of a dreamy affair. He went ballistic on the plate to post record numbers in the first 20-game stretch. He is currently leading the AL in home runs list with 18 long shots. The latest bomb came on Thursday in the series finale against the Angels in Anaheim.
Aaron Judge slammed two-run home runs against Jorge Posada in the top of the fourth inning to add to the Yankee’s soaring lead. However, the long shot happened to be Judge’s 275th career home run as he moved to 8th place in the list of most home runs ever hit by a player in the Yankees’ glorious franchise history.
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