The New York Yankees are notorious for bolstering their team through splashy free agency moves, but the Bronx Bombers shelled out cash much differently for their most recent impactful addition. The Yankees are 6-0 since hitting a local pet store and adopting a turtle named “Bronxie” to roam the locker room.
Pitcher Nestor Cortés Jr. convinced the team to adopt Bronxie ahead of last week’s series with the Texas Rangers, according to ESPN, and the move paid immediate dividends. The Yankees swept the series and scored seven runs in each of the final two games.
Bronxie’s winning aura traveled to Fenway Park for the Yankees’ next series with the Red Sox. In the turtle’s first ever road trip, New York collected a 3-0 record and outscored the Sox by 10 runs over the series.
New York (89-67) has since powered its way into the wild card hunt thanks to its Bronxie-inspired strong week. The squad owns a 72% percent chance to make the postseason, per Baseball Reference — a 47.8% increase over the past seven days.
A road series with the Toronto Blue Jays awaits the Yankees next, and debate arose within the team regarding whether Bronxie should cross the border for the trip. The 6-0 record New York put together since his addition made the players’ choice easy: he’s coming along for the ride.
“Lucky charm, whatever you want to call it; I know a lot of guys believe there’s a connection here,” Outfielder Brett Gardner told ESPN before the Yankees’ 6-3 win over Boston on Sunday. “At the end of it, it would be great if we could go out and get [Bronxie] a little World Series ring.”
The Yankees hope to continue their undefeated record with Bronxie against the Blue Jays on Tuesday at 7:07 p.m.
