Matt Blake remembers walking into the food room at Progressive Field when Cleveland hosted the All-Star Game in 2019.
There, the tables were filled with superstars. A high school pitching coach and scout before becoming Cleveland’s pitching coordinator, Blake found himself sharing space with superstars like Mike Trout, CC Sabathia and Justin Verlander.
“You’re in awe of how many good players are in the same room,” said Blake, who never played professional baseball.
Now Blake is the Yankees’ pitching coach, which also means he will be the American League’s pitching coach at the All-Star Game in Atlanta on Tuesday. Pennant-winning managers and coaches from the previous season always staff the annual exhibition, and so Aaron Boone and his assistants will join Aaron Judge, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Max Fried and Carlos Rodón at Atlanta’s Truist Park.
“I got to take a peek behind the curtain in 2019 when Cleveland hosted it and kind of helped out,” Blake said, “but now you’re on the staff and helping to lead it. It’s kind of exciting. I’m looking forward to it.”
Blake is not the only Yankee who will be coaching the best of the best without any big league experience.
While Boone, bench coach Brad Ausmus, assistant pitching coach Preston Claiborne and bullpen coach Mike Harkey enjoyed MLB careers of varying lengths, first base/infield coach Travis Chapman received just one plate appearance in The Show.
Hitting coach James Rowson and third base/outfield coach Luis Rojas never got past the low levels of the minors, while bullpen catcher Peter Serruto spent a few games at Triple-A last year.
Like Blake, major league field coordinator/director of catching Tanner Swanson and assistant hitting coaches Pat Roessler and Casey Dykes never played in the minors.
All are now big leaguers, as well as All-Stars.
“It’s obviously a testament to the hard work we’ve all put in over the years to get to this point,” Blake said. “You take it as an honor to be a part of it.”
The All-Star break is typically a rare opening for coaches to enjoy some time off in the midst of a grueling season, but Boone said he and his staff are all eagerly anticipating the opportunity.
“I am thrilled to be going, and I know our staff is too,” the skipper said. “A lot of those guys, in a lot of ways, it’ll be the experience of a lifetime to get to be in an All -Star Game and around the greatest in the world to do it.”
For some, the ability to work with some non-Yankees will be the highlight of the trip.
Blake plans on talking shop with Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, the reigning American League Cy Young, as well as Seattle’s Bryan Woo, who held the Yankees hitless for seven innings this past week.
Blake also plans on catching up with former Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman, who now pitches for the rival Red Sox.
Swanson will gravitate toward Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, MLB’s home run leader, and Blue Jays backstop Alejandro Kirk.
“Those are two guys that I have a ton of respect for,” Swanson said.
Rowson, meanwhile, doesn’t know what to expect from the festivities, but he’s “pumped” to find out.
He thinks the All-Star Game itself will be a blast, but he’s also psyched to watch Monday’s Home Run Derby, which will feature Chisholm. Rowson coached Chisholm with the Marlins and now the Yankees, but he won’t be giving pointers in the derby.
“I’ll be pulling for him,” Rowson said. “I don’t think Jazz needs my help. If he keeps doing what he’s doing now, he’ll be just fine.”
The chance to share the All-Star experience with family members will also be memorable for Yankees coaches.
With the Bombers conveniently opening the second half in Atlanta on Friday, Blake and Swanson planned on staying in The Peach State for the entire week. Blake’s parents, wife and infant daughter are joining him, while Swanson mentioned his whole family is tagging along.
“It’s nice to have some off days,” Blake said, “but at the same time, this will be a nice change of pace, and then we’ll have some off days in Atlanta.”
While workers typically don’t want to sacrifice vacation time, the Yankees’ coaches wouldn’t mind giving up more All-Star breaks in the future. Having to do so would mean more runs to the Fall Classic, as well as opportunities to win it after falling short against the Dodgers last October.
“It’s going to be really cool,” Swanson said. “Hopefully not too unique. Hopefully we get to do it again or multiple times, which means we’re playing in the World Series on a consistent basis.”
