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Yankees rookie waited 9 years for this — so Girardi ensured he’ll remember it

Kyle Higashioka caught the ninth inning of Monday’s win over the Rays at Yankee Stadium. He didn’t get an at-bat, but he has several memorabilia items to mark his major league debut.

In the ninth inning a foul ball landed behind the Yankees’ dugout, and Girardi made a deal with the person who caught it: two game-used balls for the foul ball. The deal was completed, and Girardi saved it for the catcher who spent nine years in the organization without sniffing the big leagues until Sanchez got hurt Saturday in Baltimore, and now will miss a month.