PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Mike Yastrzemski was born into the Red Sox family. But while growing up the grandson of a Boston legend, he idolized two other Hall of Famers -- Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones -- and considered the Braves to be his National League team.
So, the first-inning homer Yastrzemski hit for the Braves in Saturday’s Grapefruit League opener -- a 5-1 win over the Rays -- wasn’t just another Spring Training home run. The veteran outfielder’s memorable solo shot came during the first plate appearance he has had since signing a two-year, $23 million deal with Atlanta in December.
“I don't think any homer is ever meaningless,” Yastrzemski said. “It just gives you confidence, regardless, that the work you've been putting in is paying off. We’ve just got to make sure to pace it out, make sure we're ready for Opening Day. I’m just trying to be on time. That's it.”
Yastrzemski gave the Braves a glimpse of his power potential when he hit T.J. Nichols’ 1-0 pitch over Charlotte Sports Park’s center-field wall. Two pitches into the spring season, the 35-year-old outfielder got a taste of the thrill he hopes to experience on a regular basis once the 2026 season begins.
“It's a special thing to put this uniform on in general, but to also homer, it's obviously even better,” Yastrzemski said. “I’m just looking forward to continuing to mesh with these guys and continuing to have fun.”
Yastrzemski will enter the upcoming season as the Braves’ primary left fielder. He’ll sit against left-handed starting pitchers, but his bat could still make an impact off the bench in those games.
He had an .808 OPS against right-handed pitchers and a .427 OPS against lefties in 2025. His power increased after he was traded from the Giants to Kansas City on July 31. He had a .355 slugging percentage in 372 plate appearances with San Francisco and a .500 slugging percentage in 186 plate appearances with the Royals.
Being the grandson of Red Sox icon Carl Yastrzemski, Atlanta’s new left fielder had a chance to meet many of the game’s legends. One of those was Braves Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox, who signed a glove for a young Yastrzemski before a Braves-Red Sox game at Fenway Park.
“It was this dark brown leather glove that Bobby signed for me the first time I met him,” Yastrzemski said. “When I was a young kid, I was so obsessed with it. I'd sleep with it. I used it until I went to high school. I was like, 'I'm not getting rid of this thing.'”