The Yankees don’t typically suit up on their off-days. But on Monday, at Je T’aime Patisserie in Brooklyn, they put on their aprons and got to work.
The task? Preparing cream and peach croissants, under the guidance of owner and pastry chef Jatee Kearsley.
“They all did a good job for their first time,” Kearsley said. “They followed instructions very well, and I guess as a baseball player you gotta know how to follow instructions, right?”
“We’re coachable,” right-hander Will Warren corroborated.
The event marked the start of the Yankees’ 17th HOPE Week (Helping Others Persevere & Excel), an initiative honoring individuals or organizations worthy of support in the New York community. Kearsley was this year’s first honoree.
“It was great hearing her story and how much she just wants to give back to the community,” reliever Ryan Yarbrough said. “It’s special, and any way we can kind of help or just be a part of it is fantastic.”
A Queens native with a love of french pastries, Kearsley opened Je T’aime Patisserie in Bed-Stuy in 2022. Nearly two years later, facing financial struggles, she prayed for a way to pay her employees before a video featuring the shop went viral on social media.
New customers craved the sweets, but they also connected with Kearsley’s mission of providing elevated, fresh food in an area without ample access to such offerings.
“You shouldn't have to go take a two-hour bus trip to get a good croissant,” Kearsley said. “You want to make sure that within your neighborhood, you are experiencing the goodness that the whole New York City offers.”
Despite her battle to keep the small business afloat, Kearsley has never compromised on her commitment to accessibility -- especially when it comes to accepting EBT and SNAP as payment. It’s important to her that “all people belong” at the store, even if that means prioritizing affordability over her own gains.
“I genuinely don’t think I’m doing anything spectacular,” Kearsley said. “I’m just doing what we all should do. Like, uplift each other and our neighborhoods.
“I always wanted to make sure that no matter where I put Je T’aime Patisserie, it was going to impact the community -- the underserved, the overlooked, the people who need it the most.”
On Monday, Kearsley was surprised with a variety of resources to help grow her business, including a mentorship from Executive Chef for Legends at Yankee Stadium Robert Flowers’ team for the coming season and $20,000 from the New York Yankees Foundation.
“It takes a lot of dedication and a lot of sacrifice,” Flowers said of Kearsley’s craft. “With the quality of the pastries that she’s producing in this little bakery, it’s amazing. I mean, these are some of the things that three-Michelin-Star places are making in the city.”
Some Yankees got a taste of those pastries on Monday, along with a taste of what it takes to make them.
The afternoon’s agenda was kept secret from Kearsley, who thought she was in for a standard interview before a variety of guests suddenly poured into her shop. Through one door came an excited crowd of close friends and family. Through another door came six Yankees players -- Carlos Rodón, Cam Schlittler, J.C. Escarra, Spencer Jones, Warren and Yarbrough -- as well as pitching coach Matt Blake, all ready to hone their croissant skills.
Some, like Rodón, were generous with their peach and cream portioning in favor of presentation. Others, like Yarbrough, were more conservative.
“That’s where I messed up,” Yarbrough analyzed. “I just went for … getting the job done, and then I realized the guys around me were making it look really nice. It was kind of hard to pivot from there.”
Kearsley quipped that the players could update their résumés with their newly gained culinary experience. She even informed them that she was hiring.
“We can only work mornings,” Yarbrough said.
“That’s okay,” Kearsley responded. “I start every day at 3 a.m.!”
The final products earned rave reviews, with Warren calling it a “knock-your-socks-off” taste -- though it wasn’t quite enough to sway him toward a new career path.
“I will not be [back] here at 3 a.m.,” Warren said. “But I definitely will be putting in some orders for some more pastries, croissants, whatever, because it was fantastic.”
Kearsley will try her hand at the players’ area of expertise on Tuesday night, throwing the first pitch before the Yankees’ series opener against the White Sox as HOPE Week festivities continue.
“She’s making a difference in the community, and so it’s nice to help people make a difference,” Warren said. “Her energy is contagious. The whole room, the whole building was lit up. And it was a lot of fun.”