Yankees pitching prospect Deivi García made his major-league debut tonight. While the stands at Yankee Stadium were empty, that’s still a nerve-wracking experience for a 21-year-old. García’s meteoric rise through the minor leagues last year only adds to the pressure on the right-hander.
You know what helps with the nerves? Having a veteran player vouch for you, encourage you, and make you laugh. That’s where 40-year-old catcher Erik Kratz comes in. When the Yankees called up Kratz, he raved about Garcia and Clarke Schmidt.
“They’re ready to go. There’s no other way to say it,” Kratz told Bryan Hoch.