New York Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt was out of the starting lineup on May 14, but that didn’t stop him from contributing in a major way.
Held down by Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo for most of the afternoon, the Yankees trailed 2-1 entering the seventh inning.
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That’s when Yankees manager Aaron Boone made the call, choosing to pinch-hit the five-time Silver Slugger and former MLB MVP.
New York Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt rips a pitch against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park.Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
It didn’t take long from there, as Goldschmidt tied the game with a pinch-hit home run, taking Mariners reliever Gabe Speier deep on the first pitch he saw.
This homer wasn’t just a key play on May 14, however, it was a notable moment in Goldschmidt’s long and illustrious career.
According to the MLB X account, “Paul Goldschmidt’s last pinch-hit home run was August 11th … of 2011.” Making this the first time he’s accomplished a pinch-hit homer in 14 seasons!
After Goldschmidt got the Yankees evened up at two, superstar Aaron Judge gave them the lead with a home run of his own.
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New York’s bullpen took over from there, nailing down a 3-2 victory over Seattle. And it all started with “Goldy.”
The 37-year-old veteran has been a breath of fresh air for the Yankees after signing a one-year, $12.5 million contract over the offseason.
The Bronx Bombers got very little production out of first base in 2024, and Goldschmidt already has 5 home runs and 22 RBIÂ after Wednesday. Not to mention a .346 batting average and .902 OPS.
Following the win over the Mariners, the Yankees are now 25-18 on the season. They currently hold a 3.5-game lead over the Boston Red Sox in the American League East.
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