NY Yankees News: Legendary Manager Surprises Fans with Mound Visit at Spring Training
Legendary New York Yankees manager Joe Torre made a familiar stroll from the dugout to the mound on Monday afternoon at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Clad in full uniform, he approached starting pitcher Carlos Rodón and gracefully relieved him from the game.
After an impressive 5 2/3 innings of hitless, scoreless pitching against the Phillies, Torre signaled to the bullpen, executing his first pitching change for the Yankees in over a decade. In response, Yankees fans in attendance showered him with a well-deserved standing ovation.
Rodón reflected on the moment, stating, “I looked up and saw Joe Torre. I figured, ‘Oh, it’s Joe Torre. I should give him the ball.’ It was a cool experience. Everyone knows who Joe Torre is, and he received a warm ovation out there.”
Torre was joined by former players Bernie Williams and Andy Pettitte as guest instructors at Yankees camp that week. However, the plan to have the skipper donning a uniform took current manager Aaron Boone some effort.
Just like old times.@JoeTorre 🫡 pic.twitter.com/q3rIl8CoZ9
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 18, 2024
Boone shared, “I’ve been working on it for a couple of days. My initial goal was to get him in uniform, and that happened quickly. I wasn’t sure if he would go for it, so that was fantastic. Over the last two days, I’ve been discussing it with him, and today, he said, ‘Let’s do it.'”
Torre commanded the Yankees from 1996 to 2007, amassing four World Series championships and six American League pennants. Boone, who played under Torre in 2003, expressed his admiration for the former manager.
The #HochyPokey: This call to the bullpen was a trip down memory lane for @JoeTorre… pic.twitter.com/z3gQISk3vy
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) March 18, 2024
As per Dan Martin of the New York Post, Torre is expected to stay around for four or five days, with his primary intention being to provide space for Boone to manage the team.
“The last thing I want is to interfere with Boone’s work,” Torre remarked. “He’s given me free rein here.”
Following his tenure with the Yankees, Torre managed the Los Angeles Dodgers for three years starting in the 2008 season. He retired from managerial duties after the 2010 season and was unanimously elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Expansion Era Committee in 2014. Currently, Torre serves as Major League Baseball’s Special Assistant to the Commissioner.