Kyle Higashioka has known nothing but the Bronx, Yankee Stadium and striped pajamas thus far in his MLB career.
However, after spending 16 years as a member of the New York Yankees organization, he was dealt to the San Diego Padres in the monster trade that brought Juan Soto to the Big Apple.
The California high school wide receiver was selected in the seventh round in 2008 in the same draft that brought Buster Posey to the San Francisco Giants.
After undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2013 and fracturing his thumb in 2014, Higgy was pushed back to the A-Fort in 2015 when Brian McCann was an MLB catcher, Austin Romine was at Triple-A and Gary Sanchez was playing in AA.
Then, the following year, he moved up to the Double-A level before Sanchez suffered an injury that opened the door to the major leagues for Higashioka.
It took nine years in the minor leagues before finally breaking into major baseball for the main player, who didn't always have it easy.
I went through a few tough years in the minors to start my career. There were definitely a lot of times where I doubted I could make it to the big leagues. Just the fact that I got there and had so many cool moments is enough.
The efforts finally bore fruit, Higashioka even going so far as to be automatically responsible for Domingo German's perfect match in Oakland.
I've been very lucky with a lot of things cool that happen to me. I already have stories to last a lifetime. Even if my career had ended with the Yankees, it would have been a fantastic career considering how I started. This is the organization that made me the player I am today.
His career is not over, however, as it will continue in San Diego, near his family and his mother who is very happy to now have a much shorter commute to see him play.
