Hunter Dobbins on the Mound for the Red Sox Against the Yankees

This Sunday night, Hunter Dobbins will step onto the field at Yankee Stadium, proudly donning his Boston Red Sox uniform. It’s a big deal, especially since the Sox are facing off against their long-time rivals, the New York Yankees.

For Dobbins, pitching in the Bronx is particularly special. “My dad was a die-hard Red Sox fan,” he remarked, reflecting on his family’s loyalty to the team. At just 25, he declared, “If the Yankees were the last team to offer me a contract, I would retire.”

Drafted by Boston in 2021 during the eighth round after his time at Texas Tech, Dobbins acknowledges that his attachment to the Red Sox is, perhaps, not as deep as his father’s. He chuckled about his feelings towards the Yankees, saying, “I’ve seen anyone but them, because of the Yankees’ silliness.”

In professional sports, there are plenty of instances where players, and sometimes their families, switch allegiances once they join a new team. Dobbins, however, seems determined to have a lengthy career with the Red Sox, hoping he won’t ever have to entertain a Yankees contract.

Interestingly, when asked about his favorite Yankee, he said, “Can I name everyone but Andy Pettitte?” revealing that Pettitte and his father had a close friendship.

This marks Dobbins’ first season with the team, and so far, he’s made seven starts out of nine appearances. In those outings, he’s pitched 44.1 innings, allowing 20 runs, which gives him a 4.06 ERA, along with 37 strikeouts and just 10 walks.

As the Red Sox aim to conquer the Yankees in this early season series, they had a promising start, defeating New York 10-7 on Saturday after an impressive performance against starter Ryan Yarbro.

Currently, the Yankees are leading the AL East with a record of 39-24, while Boston’s recent victory brings them to 31-35. It’s going to be an interesting matchup to watch.