Zack Granite already has plenty of Yankee Stadium memories.
From going to games as a fan at the previous stadium with his family while growing up on Staten Island to playing at the new stadium for the first time in September 2017 with the Twins and then getting a single off David Robertson in Minnesota’s loss to the Yankees in the wild-card game that year.
He’s still hoping for one more.
“From when I was a kid, when I thought about playing in the majors, I envisioned myself in a Yankee uniform,” Granite said Tuesday by phone from his new home in Middletown, N.J. “Now I’m 27 and have that chance. The first game in spring training, I started and was wearing pinstripes. I had chills and a big smile. I dreamed about it my whole life.”
Granite played 40 games in the majors for the Twins in 2017 before an injury to his non-throwing shoulder derailed his 2018 season. Granite spent last year with Triple-A Nashville before joining the Yankees in November when he signed a minor league contract for outfield depth.
Then, the coronavirus pandemic struck and spring training came to a halt.
“It just stinks,” Granite said of having his time with the Yankees cut off, at least temporarily. “I hope it doesn’t end like this. I’m hoping we can start in June or July and play as long as we can. I don’t know if that’s gonna happen, but I love baseball. It’s what I’ve done my whole life. Even my wife is saying, ‘It’s weird having you around.’”
He remains optimistic he’ll get an opportunity.
“I always wanted to say I played for the Yankees,” said Granite, who won a PSAL title playing for Tottenville HS in 2010 as a senior before starring at Seton Hall.
“You hear about all the success they’ve had with guys coming from different organizations. They do a great job with player development and I wanted to learn from the best. Maybe it wasn’t my best chance to make an Opening Day roster, but I thought it would make me a better player.”
He was 3-for-18 with six walks when the plug was pulled on spring training in mid-March. Granite had come back to New Jersey before the minor league complex closed and is having his equipment shipped back from Tampa.
Like most of the rest of the baseball world, Granite is in limbo. He doesn’t have a gym at home and there’s no place to work out.
“I don’t feel like anything has been taken away,” Granite said. “This is a national emergency. It’s not just about sports. It’s about life. I showed what I could do to the coaches and now all I can do is stay positive, stay busy and stay in shape.”
The speedy center fielder, who played three years at Seton Hall before being drafted in the 14th round by Minnesota in 2013, tried to make the most of his time in spring training.
“It was awesome meeting Bernie Williams, Tino Martinez [and] Alfonso Soriano,” said Granite, whose favorite player was Derek Jeter. “I grew up watching them. To go from that cool experience to everything stopping is just… you almost don’t know what to say. I just can’t believe it. It’s so crazy being here right now.”
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Granite’s parents just moved from Staten Island to New Jersey as well, and he would like to help them get settled, “but you can’t because you’re not supposed to be around people. That’s probably the hardest part.”
Now, Granite waits and thinks back to his first trip to The Bronx as a major leaguer nearly three years ago.
“The first thing I did was go to Monument Park before anyone got there,” Granite said. “Walking out of the dugout as a player, I had goosebumps. To be able to get back there as a Yankee, that would top it all. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
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Zack Granite's lifelong Yankees dream can't 'end like this' - New York Post
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