Aaron Boone Trusted His Gut on Rosario, and Two Homers Later the Yankees Are Thanking Him

Sometimes a manager just knows. Aaron Boone had a hunch before Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium, and Amed Rosario turned that gut feeling into a statement performance. With Ryan McMahon stuck in a brutal 2-for-23 slump, Boone made the call to slot Rosario into the lineup against Athletics righty Aaron Civale. The gamble paid off in a major way: Rosario went yard twice, including a go-ahead three-run bomb in the eighth inning, as the Yankees rolled past Oakland 5-3.

Boone Knew Rosario Was Ready, Even If His Last Game Was in Seattle

Here's the thing about Amed Rosario: the guy is a professional. His last game before Tuesday was April 1 in Seattle, but Boone wasn't worried about ring rust. The skipper has talked about Rosario's work ethic and the high energy he brings every single day, whether he's in the lineup or not.

"The one thing that stuck with me about him last year was how good he was staying ready and being prepared," Boone said. "He went on the IL a quick 10 days after he ran into the fence in right field. He came back and didn't need a rehab assignment. He sure was ready. He is really good at doing what he needs to do to be ready every single day."

That mentality showed on Tuesday. Rosario didn't need time to get loose. He was locked in from the jump.

A Three-Run Blast in the Eighth Ices It

The Yankees were cruising down 3-2 when the rally started in the eighth. Giancarlo Stanton singled to score Cody Bellinger and make it 3-2. Two batters later, Rosario stepped up and sent a Statcast-projected 414-foot missile over the fence to give New York a two-run lead and seal the deal.

"I was looking for a pitch where I could do some damage. I got it," Rosario said through interpreter Marlon Abreu.

His teammates knew it immediately. José Caballero couldn't help but gush about his teammate. "It's great to have him on the team. He never has a bad day. He always has high energy. It's good for the club and for him," Caballero said.

Rosario has carved out a career as a pro even without playing every day since his time with the Guardians in 2023. "Although I'm not playing every day, I try to not let that affect me mentally," he said. "Over the years, I've been able to create a routine to help me do my job."

Boone made the right call. That's what good managers do.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.