Stunned Yankees outfielder Harrison Bader found he had been put on the waiver by club television 10-15 minutes before the Tigers game – and didn’t know what it meant
- The other 29 MLB clubs have 48 hours to claim the midfielder
- Bader still played for the Yankees on Tuesday, going 0-for-4 at home
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The New York Yankees’ decision to part with center fielder Harrison Bader came as a complete surprise to many, including Bader himself.
Bader was with the team in Detroit for a game against the Tigers when the Bronxville, New York, resident looked up at the TV in the clubhouse lunchroom and saw the news that he had been given an irrevocable waiver.
The outfielder told YES Network reporter Meredith Marakovits his first reaction was, “What do waivers mean?”
“In all seriousness, regardless of what happened or what might happen, the fact that I got the chance to play in this uniform – and I still hope I get the chance to play in this uniform – is an absolute been a blessing. absolute gift,” said Bader.
“I’m a kid from New York City and I never thought in a million years I’d be playing in the big leagues, let alone the New York Yankees.”
Harrison Bader found out on Tuesday that he was being excused by watching TV in the clubhouse
Bader then went out and played against the Tigers, going 0-for-4 and committing an error
He admitted that he thought about the waiver the entire game against Detroit
Bader was ordered to go back and play the game against Detroit while he waits for a 48-hour period in which he can be claimed by any team.
During that game, he was 0-for-4 and committed an unusual outfield error.
When asked if he thought about the waiver during the game, Bader replied, “I’m human, so yes, maybe a little bit.”
“But I did a really good job of just turning it off once you get between the white lines. It’s kind of the moments in between, when you put your helmet down and stuff, when you’re like, “Hmm, that really happened.”‘
If he is not picked up by one of the 29 other clubs in Major League Baseball, Bader will remain on the roster of the Yankees.
After entering the 2023 season on injury reserve, Bader hit seven home runs in 281 at-bats in 82 games. He’s down .242/.279/.370 so far this season.