Roger Clemens thanks Yankees manager Aaron Boone for extremely kind spring gesture
The New York Yankees have stepped up their guest instructor game this spring, seemingly producing another generation-bending photograph of legends every single workout.
Perhaps no embraced veteran has been more surprising to see than Roger Clemens, though. Persona non grata across MLB for many years for being associated with the late-’90s steroid scandal (he never admitted usage, nor did he test positive), Clemens returned to Yankees camp to impart his pitching wisdom this spring.
He’s even gone the extra mile, traveling to road games (otherwise known as “pulling a Nolan Arenado”). MLB veterans rarely take the bus during camp, and that theoretically would go double for 62-year-old retired heroes.
Clemens had a good reason to make the trip to Clearwater for the Yankees’ showdown with the Phillies on Tuesday, though, and Aaron Boone made sure the voyage was worth the righty’s while. The Rocket’s son Kody plays for the Phils, and has stuck with the big-league club for the past two seasons after bouncing around somewhat.
Before Tuesday’s exhibition, Boone orchestrated a bit of history with Phillies manager (and member of the Yankees family) Rob Thomson. The lineup card exchange featured father and son handing things over to the umpires for probably the first time in MLB history (unscientific, but likely), and Clemens was extremely grateful after the game wrapped.
