Former Yankees and present Rangers catcher Kyle Higashioka remembers how laborious Aaron Decide took his first cup of massive league espresso.
Removed from an MVP at that time, Decide struggled over his first 27 video games within the majors, hitting simply .179 in 2016. Some would have merely chalked the efficiency as much as rising pains, however not Decide.
“A lot of players would be kind of like, ‘Oh, OK. Well, I just need to get hot at the plate and I’ll be good,’” Higashioka mentioned Tuesday with the Rangers within the Bronx. “But that was so upsetting to him that he did not play well in his first experience that he completely overhauled his swing, went out on a limb and whatever. Basically, he wasn’t content with just being another player. It was like he wanted to absolutely maximize his potential, and he has. And he continues to get better. That’s just the kind of player he is.”
Decide has gone above and past, turning himself into the most effective hitter within the recreation.
Getting into the sequence in opposition to Texas, he was slashing an absurd .401/.490/.751 with 15 dwelling runs and 41 RBI. Then, in Tuesday’s win, he raised his league-leading common to .403 with a 2-for-4 efficiency that additionally included his sixteenth dwelling run of the season — one other MLB-best on the time — and the shortest of his profession at 326 toes.
In Wednesday’s victory, Decide went 1-for-3 with an RBI single, leaving his common at .402 earlier than Thursday’s afternoon recreation.
For Higashioka, a member of the Yankees group from 2008-2023, Decide’s energy is nothing new. Nevertheless, the backstop is baffled by Decide’s flirtation with a .400 common.
“.400 is actually the only thing that’s crazy to me,” Higashioka mentioned. “Because nobody’s hit .400 since Ted Williams. We’ll see if he hits .400 this year. But yeah, that’s pretty nuts.”
A longtime buddy of Decide’s, Higashioka believes the Yankees captain’s “continual drive” has allowed him to succeed in these heights.
In 2022, Decide reset the American League file for dwelling runs in a season. Accidents interrupted his dominance in 2023, however then he recorded the best season ever for a right-handed hitter in 2024. Now he’s outperforming the tempo he set only a season in the past, a tempo that earned him a unanimous MVP Award.
“A lot of people would be very content with having some of the seasons he had a few years ago and just staying at that level,” Higashioka mentioned. “But I think he’s gotten better every single year since then. That’s just a testament to the character he has.”
Higashioka returned to Yankee Stadium this week for the primary time since being traded to San Diego within the Juan Soto deal two offseasons in the past. Tuesday’s recreation known as for a video tribute, in addition to ovation, for the 35-year-old, who signed a two-year, $13.5 million take care of Texas over the winter.
“Higgy’s one of a kind,” Decide mentioned of his former teammate, who was hitting .225 with one homer and eight RBI previous to catching on Thursday. “I got here up with him. He’s the definition of an important teammate, an important competitor. He’s a man that pulls for each single individual on this clubhouse. He makes all people round him higher.
“I know he was a guy that really didn’t get an opportunity to be a true starter for us for a while, but that never changed his demeanor, his attitude or how he played the game. So he’s still one of my good friends. I always check in with him. Always definitely wish for the best. I was happy for his deal with Texas. He’s, if not the best, one the best teammates I’ve ever had.”
Kyle Higashioka acquired a tribute video from the Yankees ❤️ pic.twitter.com/T0kNRWE8Ag
Higashioka continues to be pulling for the Yankees when he’s not taking part in them, as he mentioned he rooted for the membership within the World Sequence final 12 months.
“I’m not a Dodger fan,” Higashioka mentioned, including it was “tough” to see the Bombers fall in 5 video games.
Whereas Higashioka is settling in nicely with the Rangers, he did say he misses a number of the gamers, entrance workplace members and staffers he constructed relationships with in New York.
Now two seasons faraway from the pinstripes, he stays grateful that he spent the primary seven years of his main league profession with the Yankees.
“Being in a place that’s so familiar, that’s always special,” Higashioka mentioned. “But also, being a Yankee is definitely really special, so I feel extremely privileged to have been a part of this organization for so many years. I thought the fans were really good to me. I loved playing in front of them. It’s a very unique place, and it’s a very special place to play. So I’m just grateful.”
