The quintet of Castro, Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Luis Severino, and Dellin Betances marks the Yankees' largest All-Star delegation since 2011, and on Sunday, manager Joe Girardi reflected on what it means to be sending five to the Midsummer Classic.
"I'm extremely proud of the guys representing us," the skipper said. "They've had really good first halves, and they've worked really hard to get there. And, it's a lot of youth for us, too."
Of the five, the middle three are all making their first appearance, while Castro is making his first as a Yankee and ties Betances for the group high with his fourth overall selection. Dellin is the "old man" of the quintet at just 29, so Girardi's youth mantra is right on, but he also noted that the break is a good chance for the veterans on the squad to take some much-needed down time, too.
"I think for our veteran players, it's a vital chance to reenergize their bodies," Girardi said. "You hope the normal aches and pains they have during the course of a season go away for a little while, and they get a fresh start (on Friday in Boston)."
Prior to the All-Star Game itself, Judge and Sanchez will take part on Monday's Home Run Derby, making it a full two days for the neophytes. Girardi isn't worried about any side effects from that participation, and as he laughed, he also really doesn't know how to talk to them about what to expect.
"I haven't (talked to them) - it's really hard to talk about what to expect because I was never invited to one, so I don't know!" Girardi smiled. "But, hopefully our guys can just treat it as batting practice and do what they do. And, hopefully they will enjoy the moment, understand how hard it is to get to this place, and soak it all in."
The skipper will be spending time with his family while he watches his contingent take part in the All-Star festivities, but as he does, he can flash back to his own experience of what playing in the All-Star Game itself is like. And, he can fully appreciate it when he gives the advice to soak everything in, because he knows what it's like to only get one chance - one chance he wasn't even supposed to have.
And to this day, 17 years later, he remembers that fateful July of 2000, and his last-minute trip to Atlanta, as if it were yesterday.
"A couple catchers went down, and I was at home; we didn't really tell anyone what we were doing over the break, because (eldest daughter) Serena was just born - she was eight months old - and we wanted to relax and spend some time with her," Girardi recalls. "Phyllis (Merhige, former MLB executive) called me on Monday and said, 'would you like to come to the All-Star Game'. I asked if it was as a player, because if it wasn't, I wasn't going, I was spending time with my family. She said yes, and I told her I would take care of my flights and get there as soon as possible."
Serena Girardi is now heading to college - Joe in fact missed a game in Tampa back in May to attend her high school graduation - and as he finished his story, the skipper recalled how, on July 11, 2000, baseball and family intersected for the Girardis for the first time in earnest.
"It was a huge thrill for me. I'd never been to an All-Star Game, but I got to carry my daughter on the field as we were announced, so it was pretty special," Joe smiled.
Oh, and to finish out that youth movement thought? On the date of the 2000 All-Star Game, the oldest of Girardi's five 2017 All-Stars, Betances, was barely 12, while the youngest (Severino) was six…and the MVP of the game itself was a freshly-turned 26-year-old who became a Yankees icon.
Maybe the smart money, if history repeats itself, is on Judge being the MVP next year?
