The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox have one of the longest-running and fiercest rivalries in Major League Baseball. Red Sox rookie Hunter Dobbins — who happens to be starting Sunday's game at Yankee Stadium — is very aware of that fact, and seems prepared to let it carry over into his big league career.
So much so that he would rather retire than ever play for the Yankees.
Dobbins told The Boston Herald that if the Yankees were the last team to offer him a contract, he's just simply call it a career rather than wear the pinstripes.
“My dad was a die-hard Red Sox fan. And I’ve said it before, that if the Yankees were the last team to give me a contract, I’d retire.”
He later added that his dad is a hardcore Red Sox fan and that "out of disdain for the Yankees" he would watch any team except them growing up.
Making a statement like that as a member of the Red Sox is bold. Making it as a rookie with almost no track record in the Major Leagues is especially bold. Making it just before starting a game in Yankee Stadium is borderline crazy. There are only two possible ways that can go — either pure domination, or leaving with your tail between your legs and humbled.
Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. seemed to be excited for the trash talk given a series of posts on X on Sunday afternoon.
I think there should be more trash talk in baseball!!! Anyone agrees!? Anyway free smoke at 7 ♂️️
— Jazz Chisholm Jr (@j_chisholm3) June 8, 2025
I kinda like it ♂️
— Jazz Chisholm Jr (@j_chisholm3) June 8, 2025
Dobbins enters Sunday's game with a 4.06 ERA in nine career appearances (seven starts).
The Yankees enter Sunday night's game with a 39-24 record, good enough for first place in the American League East with a five-game cushion over the second-place Tampa Bay Rays. They are 9.5 games ahead of the 31-35 Red Sox.
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