Already a viral sensation, Guards' ball boy hopes to represent Cleveland at '25 ASG

CLEVELAND -- Nate Rosenhaus was a high schooler when he attended the 2019 MLB All-Star Game, hosted by the Guardians at Progressive Field. Six years later the 22-year-old could make a return to the Midsummer Classic -- this time as part of the event.

Rosenhaus, who is a visiting clubhouse assistant for the Guardians, is one of four finalists for this season’s All-Star Ball Crew. Fans may vote here through 11:59 p.m. ET on Tuesday; voting is unlimited, and two winners will make the trip to Atlanta.

The other finalists are Adam Crognale (Phillies), Jacque Harrington (Red Sox) and Frankie Boyd (Tigers).

• ASG voting not done yet! You can send 2 Ball Crew members to Atlanta

“It would be awesome. It would be so cool,” Rosenhaus said. “It’s different to go do it when you're a kid compared to when you're an adult, and you can really feel the gravity of it and to just be a part of it -- walk the red carpet, be on the field for it.”

You may recognize Rosenhaus from his time working for the Guardians as a Yankees clubhouse assistant at Progressive Field. A drummer for the bands Midwinter and The Open Doors, he has both long hair and facial hair, and his look gave him some notoriety on the Internet and the Yankees’ television broadcast over the past few seasons.

Rosenhaus began as a home clubhouse assistant in Goodyear, Ariz., in Spring Training 2022, and he worked for Cleveland during the ‘22 regular season on the visiting side. Since 2023 he has been one of the main assistants to Willie Jenks, the Guardians’ visiting clubhouse manager.

“I've loved it. It’s been the best job I've ever had and tons of fun,” Rosenhaus said. “I love coming to work every day with Willie and in the clubhouse.”

Rosenhaus has a bevy of responsibilities behind the scenes. For a game that starts at 7:10 p.m., he’ll arrive at Progressive Field as early as 1 p.m. to help teams prepare. He’ll set up the dugout for batting practice, be on top of laundry, help in the kitchen if needed and assist with anything else the players and team may need.

Once BP rolls around, “It’s pretty much go-time from then on out,” said Rosenhaus, who spends time on the field helping get balls back to the infield, gets cleats cleaned and ready for the game, and grabs a quick meal when he can.

When the game starts, Rosenhaus is stationed on the field, either near home plate getting bats back to the dugout or down the foul line retrieving balls. Postgame, he’s responsible for getting uniforms, gear and the clubhouse prepared for the next day. On a given day, he will be at the park for at least 10 hours.

“What's cool about this job, as opposed to some other jobs, is I get to be around the players 10 hours a day,” Rosenhaus said. “So I get to see these guys from the moment they get into work and the moment they leave the park, and I get to see them and talk to them as people, and not robots or video game characters on a screen that you're watching hit baseballs.

“You get to see their personality, which is fun, because most people don't get to see that.”

After being on the job for multiple seasons now, Rosenhaus has created unique relationships with players with whom he has previously worked, such as guys on AL Central teams, who frequently play in Cleveland, and on the Yankees.

“I say this to everyone: Aaron Judge is one of the nicest people, players I’ve ever met,” Rosenhaus said. “He will hold a conversation with you, and he's just the nicest. You would never know he's one of the greatest hitters of all time. It's unbelievable.”

Rosenhaus now has an opportunity to cross paths with Judge and other players once more, on the highest stage, and get recognition for his own contributions to the game.

“Getting to see a lot of the players that I know now,” Rosenhaus said, “at -- for some of these guys, the top point of their career thus far – [it] would be awesome to share that moment with them to a degree that I would be there.”