TAMPA, Fla. — Amed Rosario has been on the Yankees’ radar since his early 20s when he began his career as a shortstop for the New York Mets. The team showed interest in acquiring him before his trade to Cleveland in January 2021 and again tried to sign him as a free agent two years ago.
Rosario explained his previous move by saying,
“I went to Washington because I thought I’d play more there,”
highlighting his desire for more playing time. Eventually, the Yankees secured him last summer from the Washington Nationals, appreciating his right-handed batting strength against left-handed pitchers and his versatility in playing multiple infield and outfield positions.
Performance and Contract Details
Over his career, Rosario has maintained a .273 batting average, and during his initial stint with the Yankees, he hit .303 in 16 regular-season games. He contributed 3 hits in 10 postseason at-bats. Now 30 years old, Rosario has returned to the Yankees this season on a one-year deal worth $2.5 million as a free agent, showing the team’s ongoing confidence in his abilities.
Rosario’s Personal Favorites and Interests
In an NJ.com spring training feature, Rosario shared insights into his personal life and interests. His childhood sports idol was Manny Ramirez, and his favorite movie is Fast & Furious. Among entertainers, he admires actor Dwayne Johnson and musicians T.Y.S., a Dominican rapper, and Michael Jackson.
Reflecting on his early baseball memories, Rosario highlighted his first home run in the Dominican Republic and a memorable experience playing in Cal Ripken’s youth tournament in Baltimore, Maryland, where he earned a Silver Slugger award.
Among his favorite animals are lions and hyenas, while basketball ranks as his preferred sport aside from baseball. He enjoys visiting Los Angeles on the road and counts Yankee Stadium as his favorite ballpark. Pitchers Joe Kelly and Kenley Jensen stand out as some of the toughest opponents he has faced.
Rosario believes if he were commissioner, he would implement “one day off a week” for players. Holidays like Christmas and cartoons such as Bugs Bunny bring nostalgia, alongside the childhood pastime of playing with a baseball bat. His family vacations are fondly tied to Jarabacoa, a mountainous area in the Dominican Republic with beautiful scenery and hospitable indigenous Taino people, while his dream vacation is an African safari.
Hobbies and Additional Preferences
Art has been a favorite subject for Rosario, who studies and practices it avidly. He enjoys video games like Call of Duty and prefers Dominican Sancocho—a hearty meat-filled soup—as his favorite meal. During visits to California, he frequents In-N-Out Burger and enjoys sweets such as Sour Patch Kids. For ice cream, dulce de leche, rich with caramel, is his choice.
His hobbies extend to collecting diverse items including dogs, birds, shoes, baseball cards, and Legos. Reflecting on rare moments, Rosario would invite his two grandmothers and his maternal grandfather to dinner, honoring close family ties.
Spotlight on the Yankees’ Favorite Players Series
Rosario’s feature is part of the Yankees’ spring training favorites series published by NJ.com, which includes appearances by Aaron Boone, Jazz Chisholm, Tim Hill, Clarke Schmidt, Jake Bird, Max Fried, Spencer Jones, and Ryan Yarbrough throughout February.
Amed Rosario’s return to the Yankees underscores his resilience and ongoing value to the team. His all-around skills and engaging personality continue to make him an asset both on and off the field as this season progresses.
