Most children give their father a tie, some socks, or a book for Father’s Day or his birthday. Jose Trevino bought his dad a walk-off win for the Yanks instead.
After the Bronx Bombers traded away catcher Gary Sanchez this offseason, they brought in Trevino as eleventh-hour catching depth for his glove, especially. The thought was he would serve as the backup to Kyle Higashioka. But early offensive struggles from the latter opened the
door for Trevino to capture the hearts of Yankee fans everywhere.
On May 24, which marked the birthday of Trevino’s late father, Joe, he remembered his childhood when they’d play ball in the backyard, and he’d pretend he was hitting in Yankee Stadium, specifically, in game-winning scenarios.
The elder Trevino would set up these late-game pressure situations in their Texas backyard. “He always said, ‘I’m preparing you to be a Yankee,’” Trevino reflected with the media.
That day, it all paid off big time. With the game tied at six in the bottom of the 11th, Trevino stepped up to the plate with the winning run on second. Trevino hit a single, and as his teammates chased him towards second base, he was seen pointing towards the sky yelling,
“Papi, Papi!” to the clouds.
After the game, Trevino took to Twitter and wrote, “Hey Dad, Happy Birthday I love you and miss you! Check out our @Yankees moment.. Just like in the backyard.” This was a touching moment for the Yankee catcher, and his quickly forming personal fan base.
“He’s amazing. As a player, Trevino believes in himself,” said Yankee second baseman Gleyber Torres. “He just enjoys the little moments the most. He’s a guy that every time he has the opportunity, he tries to do the job and play the best baseball of his life.”
He certainly has played some great baseball. In 39 games this season as of Tuesday night, the catcher is hitting .309 with five home runs and 18 runs batted in.
The Friday before last, June 10, the Yankees took the field against the Chicago Cubs. Tied 1-1 in the bottom of the 13th, manager Aaron Boone called upon Trevino to pinch-hit. With men on second and third, and two outs, Trevino came through with another single to win it – this time, on his son’s birthday.
Josiah Trevino turned 4 on Friday. Kids his age do not typically stay up too late. But, when it’s your birthday and your dad is a Major League Baseball player, you’ll find a way to fight off sleepiness. Over FaceTime after the game, Josiah asked Jose if he “won the game for him.” “He wanted the Yankees to win for his birthday,” Trevino told the media.
And he made it happen.
The best fathers are the hero of their children’s lives. To kick off last weekend, there was no bigger and better hero to Josiah than his clutch-hitting father. “I don’t know what everybody believes in, but I know what I believe in,” Trevino said. “I believe I got a little extra help every
time something like that happens.”
Even prior to donning the prestigious pinstripes, Trevino belted a walk-off as a Texas Ranger in 2018 – on Father’s Day, of all days, and the very first he celebrated. Needless to say, his father’s legacy was passed on through a baseball bat, and continues to whenever Jose makes
timely connection with one.
The Messenger wishes a Happy Father’s Day to all those like Trevino who chased their boyhood backyard dreams all the way to the top, and the best of luck to the next to the next men up keen on doing just the same.
