'Close to heaven': Twins' Gasper lives out dream in Yankee Stadium debut

NEW YORK – Even though the Twins lost to the Yankees, 9-1, on Tuesday night, playing in Yankee Stadium for the first time was a dream come true for Minnesota catcher Mickey Gasper, who grew up a die-hard Yankees fan.

After Gasper called a great game during Minnesota’s 5-3 victory over the Royals on Sunday afternoon, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli decided to give him a start two days later. Imagine Gasper’s reaction when he found out that he was starting in the house that George Steinbrenner built.

Gasper thought about his parents, Mick and Livia Gasper, who were in attendance. During Mickey Gasper’s formative years, they were committed to putting him in a situation to succeed in baseball.

To show how grateful he is: On his bat handle, Gasper has a photo of him and his father wearing Yankees gear at the old Yankee Stadium.

“Being able to be out there for them [at Yankee Stadium], it’s hard to put it into words. It gives me goose bumps. It’s a special feeling,” Gasper said. “It’s like looking up to God and feeling like you made it. It’s about as close to heaven as you could possibly be.

“I just told myself before the game, ‘Thank you, Lord, because without [you], this would have been a path I wouldn’t have been able to make.’”

Gasper went 0-for-3 against Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodón. The Twins had Rodón on the ropes in the first inning, when he threw 31 pitches and allowed one run. But Rodón settled down after that and pitched six more innings without allowing another hit.

“Rodón is a professional that has been around,” Gasper said. “He settled down. When they get on the ropes, good fighters find a way to fight back. He made some tough pitches against us.

“It was a guy that found it today. We had some good at-bats early. He just settled in and made his pitches.”

Gasper, 29, was born and raised in New Hampshire, but he spent a lot of summers on the New Jersey shore. His father would often take him to Yankees games. The younger Gasper grew up idolizing Derek Jeter because his dad told him to watch how the Hall of Famer played the game.

“[Jeter] is the best. He is the captain. He is who every kid should go out on the baseball field and emulate,” Gasper said.

“One thing my dad always said, ‘Watch him, and you never know what the score is with him.’ He could be up 10, down 10. Derek Jeter always went out there and played as hard as he could, gave it everything he had. He was everything I try to be on the baseball field in terms of how I carried myself.”

Gasper is old enough to remember the Yankees’ last World Series championship in 2009, but ‘04 sticks out more because the Yankees blew a 3-0 lead to the Red Sox in the American League Championship Series and lost in seven games.

“The 2009 championship didn’t leave as quite of an imprint on me as it did in 2004,” Gasper said. “I was a young kid. I was 9 years old. I was heartbroken, but I didn’t give up on them as a kid. I always loved them.

“Joe Torre is who I think of when I think of the Yankees, too. He is a professional in general out there. Getting to meet him was special.”

After playing for Bryant University, Gasper was picked by the Yankees in the 27th round of the 2018 MLB Draft. In the Minor Leagues, he became friends with Ben Rice, Anthony Volpe, Austin Wells and Will Warren – four players who are currently an integral part of the Bronx Bombers.

“I had a chance to be around a lot of those guys in 2023,” Gasper said. “I’m forever grateful to the Yankees for giving me a shot [in professional baseball].”

Gasper left the Yankees in 2023 after the Red Sox selected him in the Minor League phase of the Rule 5 Draft that December. He made his Major League debut with the Red Sox on Aug. 12, 2024. But he didn't stay with Boston long because the Twins acquired his services last Dec. 24 in a trade for left-hander Jovani Morán.

Because Gasper was in paradise on Tuesday, nothing could bring him down. When he sees his parents, father and son will probably talk about his at-bats. Livia will have tears of joy because her son played against his favorite team growing up.

“It’s good to take a deep breath and be grateful,” Gasper said.