New York Yankees relief pitcher and native New Yorker, Adam Ottavino, becomes the first Pinstriper to wear number 0.
“Wait a second!” (in a furious Mike Francesa tone in response to a wild WFAN caller). We thought every New York Yankees number 10 and under would no longer be worn due to outlandish retiring habits.
Not number 0.
In fact, nobody in the history of the 27-time World Champions has ever sported the loneliest number there is. That is until now.
While announcing his newest three-year, it was revealed that New York-native Adam Ottavino will be wearing the number 0 for the Yankees.
Can someone check the temperature in the bullpen? ? pic.twitter.com/PXW9gMwISq
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) January 24, 2019
Zero, the number Ottavino donned in Colorado with the Rockies, was so off-the-table for the Bombers that owner Hal Steinbrenner needed to provide his stamp of approval.
Ottavino, 33, is the newest member of the Yanks bullpen that brings insane heat. In 2018, he struck out 112 batters in 77.2 total innings pitched while throwing to a 2.43 ERA. He joins a pen already consisting of Aroldis Chapman, Chad Green, Zach Britton, and Dellin Betances.
As it pertains to the history of the numbers, zero is the only (and only newest possible addition) to the single-digit family not retired. Most recently, Derek Jeter‘s No. 2 was retired a year ago. The greatest professional sports organization of all-time has also retired numbers 1 (Billy Martin), 3 (Babe Ruth), 4 (Lou Gehrig), 5 (Joe DiMaggio), 6 (Joe Torre), 7 (Mickey Mantle), 8 (Yogi Berra and Bill Dickey), and 9 (Roger Maris).
Could there be a day New York Yankees No. 0 is retired in Monument Park? Adam Ottavino hopes so, although it’ll be impossible that it’s him.
But hey, he’s all about number 0.
