SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 07: Masahiro Tanaka #19 of the New York Yankees pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays during the fourth inning in Game Three of the American League Division Series at PETCO Park on October 07, 2020 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
New York Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka owned former backup catcher Erik Kratz with a quip about his pop star wife.
Yankees fans fell in love with Erik Kratz in 2020 partially because, well, there was very little else to fall in love with during this slap-dash year.
That’s not to say the man didn’t earn folk hero status in his final season before retirement, though.