Not every player can arrive in a New York Yankees uniform and face the music, yet feel comfortable doing so. We need only think of Andrew Benintendi, Clint Frazier, Joey Gallo and Sonny Gray, to name a few.
But in the case of Harrison Bader, it’s quite the opposite. The Bronxville native is made to play in Yankees pajamas. He feels at home in HIS city, in HIS team.
Being born and raised in New York, one of my goals has always been to play in a Yankees uniform. Now that it’s done, of course I want to be a Yankee for as long as I can be.
And Bronx Bombers fans also want the center fielder to stay in New York, especially with what he showed in the last playoffs. At that time, he was like a fish in water.
I think just being healthy and feeling really good where I was allowed me to play freely. And let’s be realistic. It’s New York and the playoffs. It’s all we dream of.
Bader will certainly want to continue to seduce his fans, but especially the staff with Brian Cashman in mind, so that the latter offers him a long-term pact. According to the Yankees’ needs, this next contract must become a priority before it becomes free as air at the end of the current campaign.
But the main interested party knows that he does not control everything.
I realize, especially having been traded last year, that it’s not really up to me. The only thing I can do is play and be the best version of myself for this team and all the others.
The outfielder even turned down the offer to represent Israel at the World Baseball Classic, as he felt it was necessary to be present at his first spring camp with the Yankees, for his team and for his teammates .
A true Yankees who needs to stick around for the long haul.
