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Yaz a Familiar Name Back at Fenway

07/02/2010 9:48 AM

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COTUIT ----- When the Cape League players went to Fenway Park last Monday for a special workout day, a Yastrzemski made a reappearance ---- sort of.

     Michael Yastrzemski (Vanderbilt), grandson of Hall-of-Famer, 18-time all-star, and 23-year Red Sox veteran Carl Yastrzemski, took to the field for infield, outfield, and batting practice.

    The historic tryout day ---- a first for the Cape League ----- was not the younger Yaz’s debut at Fenway. But that didn’t stop it from being special.

    “It’s cool, you know?” he said about playing in the shadow of his famous grandfather’s retired number 8 that hangs just beyond the Pesky Pole in right field. “It’s a lot to take in. But after you sit back for a couple minutes and realize what’s going on, you just click into what you have to do to be prepared to play.”

    Michael previously played in Fenway with the 2008 draft class (he was selected in the 27th round by the Red Sox), and at the Summer Rivalry Baseball Classic Invitational. His mother, Anne-Marie, organized the event in the hopes of providing exposure to more Northeast players.

    Yastrzemski is playing for the Cotuit Kettleers this summer, having arrived on June 20th after Vanderbilt was eliminated from the College World Series. He has batted .261 in eight games, with four runs scored, one RBI and a team-leading four stolen bases.

    “We’ve got a good group of guys. It’s the only league I’d want to play in for the summer,” the Andover native said. “It’s close to home, has a good reputation, best location, and who doesn’t want to be up in the Northeast?”

    Yastrzemski’s father, the late Mike Yastrzemski, was a Cape League alum, having played for the Harwich Mariners from 1980-1982.

    Yastrzemski is not the only player here this summer with a famous baseball family member. Wareham’s Lee Mazzilli Jr. (UConn) is the son of former Major Leaguer Lee Mazzilli, Red Sox reliever Daniel Bard’s younger brother Luke Bard (Georgia Tech) is playing for Brewster, and Jack Armstrong’s (Vanderbilt) father pitched for the Cincinnati Reds and the Texas Rangers.