Yankees Thanksgiving
- Andrew Hefner
- 6 hours ago
- 8 min read
by Andrew Hefner
November 27, 2025
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Happy Thanksgiving!
As Yankees fans, we may complain a lot, but the truth is we have so much to be thankful for over our times as fans of the greatest team in the world!
This holiday, I wanted to highlight some players from my time as a fan of the sport (since roughly 2017) that I am thankful for and have had an impact on my time repping the Bronx Bombers. All of these players are no longer on the Yankees and feature a variety of widely remembered and revered players, and some you may have forgotten over the seasons.
Catcher
Starting out with a catcher, Kyle Higashioka was one of the best team players and an overall amazing clubhouse personality the Yankees have had in a long time. The backup catcher from around 2017-2023, “Higgy,” made a name for himself in New York, becoming one of the best bench options in baseball both offensively and defensively. During his time behind Gary Sanchez, Austin Romine, Jose Trevino, and more, Higgy learned the ins and outs of the position while continuing to be a huge supporter of those ahead of him on the depth chart. He also became the personal catcher of ace Gerrit Cole when he joined the team in 2019.
A homegrown Yankee, Higashioka was finally dealt away from his original team ahead of the 2024 season in the infamous trade for Juan Soto, where he had his best offensive season to date.
Today, he is a member of the Texas Rangers on a deal ending after this season, where he splits time with Jonah Heim behind the dish.
Iconic Moment:
Higoshioka was the catcher behind the dish for Corey Kluber’s no-hitter in 2021 and was widely praised for his excellent calling of the game.
First Base
Greg Bird was one of the most iconic Yankees of the late 2010s as the “Bird Dog” took over for longtime first basemen Mark Teixeira following his departure from baseball.
Bird was drafted in 2011 by the Yankees in the fifth round out of high school and worked his way up the ranks before making his debut in 2015. Unfortunately, the highly touted prospect was sidelined by injury for all of 2016, but came back for 2017, where he did not live up to the highest standards.
He continued his career in both a starting and bench role for the Yankees before being released in 2019, and Luke Voit stepped into his role. Bird went on to sign with the Rangers but failed to make an appearance, spending a brief time in the Rockies organization (again, no MLB games), before returning to AAA Scranton with the Yankees, where he ended his MLB-affiliated career. Over the past 3 years, he has found great success in pro ball in Mexico and Australia, where in 2024, he slashed a .317 average with 18 home runs and 51 RBIs with the Charros de Jalisco in Mexico.
Iconic Moment:
In his best season with the Yankees (2017), they faced the perennial postseason foes in the Cleveland Indians (now Guardians). In the 7th inning of game three, Bird broke a 0-0 tie with a solo shot to deep right that put the Yankees ahead late. New York went on to win the series and face Houston in the ALCS.
Second Base
In 2016, the utility journeyman Ronald Torreyes got the call to join the Yankees' major league squad as a backup infielder, and instantly made his mark in the Bronx. Since 2010, the Venezuelan had been bouncing around minor league squads before New York gave him his chance, and he took full advantage.
Playing most of his time at second, Torreyes shines batting .292 in 108 during the 2017 season, and filled in for Didi Gregorius when he was injured, and Chase Headley when he was dealt away midway through the season.
Unfortunately, Torreyes missed much of 2018 due to personal matters and was non-tendered following the season. He then bounced between the majors and minors with the Twins and Phillies (where his former manager Joe Girardi was), and had some success at each stop. His final MLB season was 2021, and he last played pro ball in 2022, still in the Phillies organization.
Iconic Moment:
At the height of his career in 2017, Torreyes roped a line drive to center to cement a walk-off win in extras versus the Texas Rangers.
Third Base
Gio Urshela was one of the most unexpected stars the Yankees have gotten their hands on. An elite defender, Urshela made his way to New York in a cash trade with the Blue Jays and took over for the injured Miguel Andujar, jump-starting his career.
In the season he took over starting, he batted for a .314 avg, with 21 HR and 74 RBI, and continued similar numbers throughout his next few seasons with the team.
After 2021, Urshela was traded for Josh Donaldson of the Twins and has played in the MLB with the Twins, Angels, Tigers, Braves, and, most recently, the Athletics, from whom he was released earlier this year. He is currently a free agent.
Iconic Moment:
Honorable Mention (just because I saw it live): The Yankees needed to win the last game of the season versus the Rays to clinch a playoff appearance, and in the late inning, Urshela dove down the steps of the Rays' dugout to secure a foul ball catch that allowed the Yankees to later walk off the game in the ninth.
In the 2020 wild card series, Ursehla went 4-4 versus the Guardians with a go-ahead grand slam and a diving/spinning double play that saved the game for the Yankees.
Shortstop:
Didi Gregorius had a near impossible role of replacing one of the greatest Yankees of all time, Derek Jeter. In 2015, Brian Cashman brought “Sir Didi” (he was actually knighted in his home country of the Netherlands) over in a trade to play shortstop, and although he struggled early, he quickly became one of the best Yankees of his era.
He broke out in 2016 with a .276 average and 20 home runs and continued high production for the following two seasons. In 2018, he had to have Tommy John surgery mid-season and was never really the same after the recovery, leading to the Yankees letting him walk after the 2019 season.
He signed with the Phillies, where his former manager Joe Girardi was now, and had a great 2020 season, before ending his MLB career after a rough 2021 showing. He played in Mexico and in the new Saudi-based baseball league and remains semi-pro. He will likely play for the Netherlands in the upcoming WBC.
Iconic Moment:
The loudest Yankee Stadium had been in years. Didi’s game-tying 3-run homer in the 2017 wild card game put the Yankees back in a prime position to go on and win the game before heading all the way to the ALCS that season.
Left Field
Although he rarely actually played left, utility man Tyler Wade made a huge impact on defense for the Yankees over his years with the team.
Taken by the Yankees in the third round of the 2013 draft, Wade made his debut in 2017 and helped out in a major way with defensive depth and especially pinch running. He was really always there for the team, wherever Boone or Girardi needed him, and showed a lot of pride and true joy with the Yankees.
Wade spent time after 2021 with the Angels and Athletics, before sticking around for two fairly successful seasons with the Padres. He is currently a free agent.
Iconic Moment:
He was brought in as a pinch runner on third in the bottom of the ninth with one run needed to send the Yankees to the postseason on the last game of the season. Aaron Judge hit a weak ground ball in the infield, allowing Wade to sprint home and clinch a walk-off postseason berth.
Center Field
Mike Tauchman was traded to the Yankees ahead of 2019, and he immediately made a difference in the outfield. As a backup and utility outfielder, he was always readily available and was a solid contact bat and defensive option for New York to take advantage of.
He played about two and a half solid years before being traded to the Giants in 2021 after a tough start to the season. In 2022, he played a year in Korea before returning to the MLB with the Cubs and, most recently, the White Sox, which were all fairly good seasons. He is now a free agent.
Iconic Moment:
Tauchman’s first MLB home run versus the Red Sox started a streak of a red-hot few months for the outfielder and jump-started a key 2019 season for the Yankees:
Right Field
Although he had some late career struggles, Aaron Hicks was a key part of the strong Yankees outfield for many years. Acquired in a trade in 2015, Hicks played from 2016 to 2023 with the Yankees and was a starter for most of that stretch. He had strong power and great speed, and formed an iconic “Aaron” duo between himself and Aaron Judge in the outfield.
Unfortunately, the end of his Yankees career was not so memorable, and he was dealt to the Orioles in 2023. He finished his career with the Angels in 2024 before retiring from the MLB. Recently, he won the inaugural MLB golf cup representing the Twins, which was always a passion of his.
Iconic Moment:
Honorable Mention: Hicks was known for his clutch home runs, but a favorite of mine was his game-tying three-run shot in the ninth inning against the Astros, no less, in 2022.
2nd Honorable Mention: I was not kidding about the golf game. He once drove the ball 408 yards during the offseason:
He also homered off of Justin Verlander in the 2019 ALCS to put the Yankees ahead at home
Starting Pitcher
Now, this is by far the most iconic Yankee on this list so far, but I still feel that he deserves more love for all that he did, and especially how he left. Masahiro Tanaka was one of the greatest Yankees of the last decade and was a key piece of rotations that featured the likes of Hall-of-Fame CC Sabathia, Luis Severino, and, later, Gerrit Cole.
Tanaka was a 2-time all-star and over 7 years with the Yankees pitched in 174 games, going 78-46 with a 3.74 ERA and 991 strikeouts.
He was an incredible all-around pitcher and departed the Yankees in 2021 after his option was declined ahead of the season. He returned to Japan and remains a pro overseas to this day. He is still the most recent Japanese Yankee.
Iconic Moment:
Tanaka had so many great games, including seven complete games. My favorite of which came in 2019 against the Rays when he fanned 10 at home.
Relief Pitcher
Although he had his struggles, Chad Green was an instrumental part of the Yankees' bullpen for many years. After making his debut in 2016 in pinstripes, he pitched seven seasons with the team, appearing in 272 games and tallying 494 strikeouts.
Unfortunately, he had a rough end to his Yankees career, spending some time in AAA and eventually requiring Tommy John. The Yankees did not re-sign him, and he instead was picked up by the Blue Jays, where he rehabbed and is now one of their top relievers out of the pen.
Iconic Moment:
Early in his career, Green was a starting pitcher, and he quickly made a name for himself in 2016 when he struck out 11 over six innings.
