KINGSTON, N.Y. — When former Kingston High baseball star Zack Short was picked up on waivers by the New York Mets in 2024, he was excited to join the franchise that he rooted for as a youngster. But now that he’s recently signed a minor-league contract with the New York Yankees, Short is happy to change allegiances and don the iconic pinstripes if he can earn a spot in the majors.

“I’m super excited,” Short said in a phone interview with the Freeman shortly after he signed the Yankees’ contract last week. “It’s been a crazy last few years in general, but to have another opportunity, especially with the Yankees and everything that goes along with it, is great. Hopefully, I can build off of last year in the big leagues and go from there.”

Short said the Yankees had been in the mix the last two years as he considered his options. This year, Short’s experience at shortstop should appeal to the Yankees.

Starting shortstop Anthony Volpe likely will miss the start of the season after having offseason surgery to repair a partially torn labrum, according to manager Aaron Boone.

“I can look at their roster and make an educated guess where some holes are,” Short said. “With Volpe not starting the year healthy right now, that doesn’t stop them from signing or trading for other people. But I don’t have the luxury of waiting around until the spring and handpicking a team that would be absolutely perfect. But my agent (Sam Levinson of ACES) and my family all looked at the Yankees as a possible opportunity, and here we are.”

The 30-year-old Short has had a lot of different stops in his five years in the majors. After playing 177 games for the Detroit Tigers from 2021 to 2023, Short made the opening day roster for the Mets in 2024.

But after playing in just 10 games for the Mets, Short was traded to the Boston Red Sox on May 1, 2024. After playing two games for the Red Sox, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves on May 9, 2024. In 30 games with the Braves, he batted .148 with five RBIs before eventually being sent to the Braves’ Triple-A franchise, the Gwinnett Stripers in Lawrenceville, Georgia, where he finished out the season.

Short elected free agency at the end of the 2024 campaign and signed a minor-league contract with the Houston Astros on Jan. 7, 2025. Short made his mark as a slick fielding shortstop who had a knack for coming up with key hits in 22 games for the Astros. He hit .220 with two home runs and seven RBIs.

But when the Astros reacquired former All-Star third baseman-shortstop Carlos Correa from the Minnesota Twins on July 31 in an effort to bolster their playoff hopes (they barely missed a wild-card spot in the American League) and star shortstop Jeremy Pena returned from an injury, Short’s time with the Astros was over. He ended up finishing out the year with the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys in Texas, hitting .200 in 122 games with 15 homers, 18 doubles, and 46 RBIs.

Short said playing alongside Astros star second baseman Jose Altuve was a valuable learning experience in his time in Houston. And the success he had there has boosted his confidence heading into the 2026 season.

“I felt like since my rookie year that was kind of the most straight run that I’ve had at the big-league level,” Short said. “I was kind of grinding mentally and physically and didn’t really feel great at the plate. I was proud of myself for not letting it carry over to defense, which ultimately kept me in the lineup every day. It started as an on-and-off thing every other day, but at one point, it was, ‘We’re going to roll with you for the time being.’ I felt I had a vote of confidence. It did boost my self-confidence in many ways.”

Short said he’s expecting to report to spring training in Tampa, Florida, in the first week of February.

Short and his wife, Fallon, will continue to make their home in Norwalk, Conn.

Short is looking forward to the day he’ll be able to play in Yankee Stadium with the Bronx Bombers. He is very familiar with Yankee Stadium from his playing days, particularly with the Tigers. But he also fondly remembers the times he would drive into New York City as a youngster with his family to watch the Mets and the Yankees.

Short said he won’t have any trouble putting aside his past support of the Mets when he suits up for the crosstown rival Yankees, though.

“Everything goes out the window at that point,” Short laughed regarding his signing with the Yankees.