Aaron, Bret renew Boone Bowl in Yanks-Rangers
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Jorge Castillo
NEW YORK — For the first time in two decades, the Boone brothers were in opposite dugouts when the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers met in the opener of a three-game series at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night.
Back in 2005, Bret Boone and little brother Aaron — whose father and grandfather were major leaguers — were in their 30s and nearing the end of their careers as third-generation players. This time, Aaron is in his eighth season as Yankees manager and Bret is in his third week as Rangers hitting coach.
To celebrate the unlikely occasion, they had dinner together Monday after not seeing each other since spending Christmas together in San Diego.
“Well, it’s new for me,” Bret said before the Yankees’ 5-2 win. “He actually paid the bill last night.”
Bret, 56, had never been on a major league coaching staff before the Rangers unexpectedly called him to gauge his interest in helping their anemic offense. He quickly accepted the job and took over as hitting coach on May 5, days after the club fired offensive coordinator Donnie Ecker.
At the time, the Rangers, less than two years removed from winning the World Series with Ecker, ranked last in the American League in runs scored. The sample is tiny, but the Rangers entered Tuesday ranked seventh in the league since May 6, Boone’s first day on the job.
“He’s fit in really nicely,” said Rangers manager Bruce Bochy, who managed Bret on the 2000 San Diego Padres. “Bret’s brought some new ideals, another set of eyes and ears. And I think he’s done a really nice job of getting to know the guys, building relationships already, and he’s a pleasure to have around.”
Growing up, the brothers, because they were four years apart, didn’t play together or against each other in any official capacity. But there were battles of all kinds at home.
“We used to box when we were kids, and I used to wear the headgear and he wouldn’t,” Aaron said. “So, picture, I’m probably 6, he’s probably 10. And I popped him good one time. And kind of got him upset, and he took it to me pretty good.
“And I’m starting to cry a little bit. And he’s like, ‘No, you can’t cry. We’re gonna get in trouble.’ Years later, I was thinking, ‘We’re gonna get in trouble? You’re gonna get in trouble for beating up your little brother.'”
Before Tuesday, the last time the Boone brothers went against each other at the major league level was on April 24, 2005. Bret, who was in his 14th and final season, started at second base for the Mariners and went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a sacrifice fly. Aaron started at third base for Cleveland. He went 1-for-3 with a solo home run against Jamie Moyer for Cleveland’s only run.
Aaron, 52, played until the 2009 season. Eight years later, he was hired as Yankees manager, and he has gone on to lead the team to the postseason six times, including a World Series appearance last October. Aaron began Tuesday tied for 15th with a .584 career winning percentage.
“It was weird for me,” Bret said. “He was always Bret’s little brother. And then all of a sudden he got the Yankees job and people were saying, ‘You’re Aaron’s brother.’ I’m very proud of what he’s done.”
Before Tuesday’s game, the two brothers exchanged their respective teams’ lineup cards at home plate. They shared laughs with the umpire crew and came together for photos. Then it was all business.
“I’m sure I’ll peek over there at some point during the game,” Aaron said, “and see what his act looks like.”
Hard-throwing rookie Jacob Misiorowski is a National League All-Star replacement, giving the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander a chance to break Paul Skenes‘ record for the fewest big league appearances before playing in the Midsummer Classic.
Misiorowski was named Friday night to replace Chicago Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd, who will be unavailable for the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Atlanta because he is scheduled to start Saturday at the New York Yankees.
The 23-year-old Misiorowski has made just five starts for the Brewers, going 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA while averaging 99.3 mph on his fastball, with 89 pitches that have reached 100 mph.
If he pitches at Truist Park, Misiorowski will make it consecutive years for a player to set the mark for fewest big league games before an All-Star showing.
Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander getting ready for his second All-Star appearance, had made 11 starts in the majors when he was chosen as the NL starter for last year’s All-Star Game at Texas. He pitched a scoreless inning.
“I’m speechless,” said a teary-eyed Misiorowski, who said he was given the news a few minutes before the Brewers’ 8-3 victory over Washington. “It’s awesome. It’s very unexpected and it’s an honor.”
Misiorowski is the 30th first-time All-Star and 16th replacement this year. There are now 80 total All-Stars.
“He’s impressive. He’s got some of the best stuff in the game right now, even though he’s a young pitcher,” said Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who is a starting AL outfielder for his seventh All-Star nod. “He’s going to be a special pitcher in this game for a long time so I think he deserved it and it’s going be pretty cool for him and his family.”
Carlos Rodón, Carlos Estévez and Casey Mize were named replacement pitchers on the AL roster.
The New York Yankees‘ Rodón, an All-Star for the third time in five seasons, will replace teammate Max Fried for Tuesday’s game in Atlanta. Fried will be unavailable because he is scheduled to start Saturday against the Chicago Cubs.
In his final start before the All-Star game, Rodón allowed four hits and struck out eight in eight innings in an 11-0 victory over the Cubs.
“This one’s a little special for me,” said Rodón, an All-Star in 2021 and ’22 who was 3-8 in his first season with the Yankees two years ago before rebounding. “I wasn’t good when I first got here, and I just wanted to prove that I wasn’t to going to give up and just put my best foot forward and try to win as many games as I can.”
The Kansas City Royals‘ Estévez replaces Texas’ Jacob deGrom, who is scheduled to start at Houston on Saturday night. Estévez was a 2023 All-Star when he was with the Los Angeles Angels.
Mize takes the spot held by Boston‘s Garrett Crochet, who is scheduled to start Saturday against Tampa Bay. Mize gives the Tigers six All-Stars, most of any team and tied for the franchise record.
Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia will replace Tampa Bay‘s Brandon Lowe, who went on the injured list with left oblique tightness. The additions of Estévez and Garcia give the Royals four All-Stars, matching their 2024 total.
The Seattle Mariners announced center fielder Julio Rodríguez will not participate, and he was replaced by teammate Randy Arozarena. Rodríguez had been voted onto the AL roster via the players’ ballot. The Mariners, who have five All-Stars, said Rodríguez will use the break to “recuperate, rest and prepare for the second half.”
Arozarena is an All-Star for the second time. He started in left field for the AL two years ago, when he was with Tampa Bay. Arozarena was the runner-up to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the 2023 Home Run Derby.
Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen, a first-time All-Star, is replacing Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, who is scheduled to start Saturday night at Arizona. Rasmussen is 7-5 with a 2.82 ERA in 18 starts.
San Diego added a third NL All-Star reliever in lefty Adrián Morejón, who replaces Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler. The Phillies’ right-hander is scheduled to start at San Diego on Saturday night. Morejón entered the weekend with a 1.71 ERA in 45 appearances.
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