Amy Gutierrez talks to outfielder Mike Yastrzemski about his walk-off home run celebration, the emergence of Donovan Solano, and how good the Giants’ bullpen has pitched in 2020.
Carl Yastrzemski was an 18-time All-Star. He won the 1967 AL MVP when he also won the Triple Crown, won three batting titles and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989. When it comes to his grandson, Mike, the Boston Red Sox legend doesn't want any credit for the Giants outfielder's rise.
The original Yaz says that belongs to Mike's father, Carl Jr., who also went by Mike before he died in 2004.
"I never did that," Carl said Thursday on 95.7 The Game. "The one person who really helped him out with his hitting and talked to him a lot was his father."
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Mike capped off a two-homer game Wednesday night with a walk-off splash hit to give the Giants a wild 7-6 win over the San Diego Padres. Through six games this season, Yastrzemski has been one of the best hitters in baseball. He's hitting .409 with two solo homers and has a 1.273 OPS.
And while Carl credits his son with Mike's hitting ability, he believes a change of scenery and joining the Giants last season is the biggest key.
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"I would say that going to San Francisco was probably the greatest thing that ever happened to him," Carl said. "I think it changed his whole outlook. It gave him a lot of confidence. When you love where you're playing, that has a lot to do with it."
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The Giants acquired Yastrzemski in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles in March 2019. He hit .316 with 12 homers in just 40 for the Sacramento River Cats, the Giants' Triple-A affiliate last season. Then, at 28 years old, the Giants finally gave him his first chance in the majors on May 25 last season.
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He certainly didn't disappoint. Yastrzemski hit .272 with 21 homers and an .852 OPS as a rookie. Early on this season, he has shown that wasn't a fluke and the Giants believe he truly can be a great player in the big leagues.
"I think the big thing is, he's very happy in San Francisco, and I think that has a lot to do with it," Carl said. "It changed his whole attitude, his outlook and like I said, he really loves the Giants and he's happy being with them."