In a time of crisis, the Yankees left a big impression on their minor leaguers who said they will never forget how well they were treated after the Tampa complex was shut down and the players quarantined on March 13.
By March 17, the Yankees had minor leaguers test positive for the coronavirus.
With GM Brian Cashman leading the effort, the Yankees handed out 300 meals per day to players and staff and gave roughly 160 players $75 per day until Thursday, when the players were scheduled to return to their offseason residences. The meals were dropped off to players staying in hotels. Players who lived in apartments picked up the meals at the complex.
“I can honestly say that this is going to stick in my mind forever. Seeing Brian Cashman in flip-flops and gloves working his butt off to help the players shows true leadership,’’ former LSU infielder Josh Smith wrote through the Yankees’ PR office, which forwarded the email to The Post. “Along with Cashman, [senior director of player development] Kevin Reese and [director of player development] Eric Schmitt did the same each and every day when they could have been at home taking care of their families. You see them lead by example, and it shows how special this organization is. The respect I and teammates have earned from this organization over the past two weeks will sit with me forever. That’s what makes this organization different than most and why we will come out of this stronger than before.’’
Joining Cashman, Reese and Schmitt in the effort was vice president of amateur scouting Damon Oppenheimer.
“Seeing our bosses here supporting us makes me see that we are not just simple players for them,’’ wrote pitcher Domingo Acevedo, who has been in the Yankees’ system since 2012 when he signed as an amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic, via email. “They also really appreciate us as people [and] care as if we were part of their family. That is worth a lot to us.’’
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Using a translation app, infielder Oswaldo Cabrera spoke for his fellow minor leaguers.
“All the players feel very grateful to each one of them. They have known how to support us and giving us a helping hand to confront this situation,’’ wrote Cabrera, who is from Venezuela. “I have learned that the organization is truly invested in its players and that they are capable of putting together a good emergency protocol when it comes to any situation as this COVID-19.’’
Pitcher Daniel Bies viewed the Yankees’ action as reassurance of how the organization treats players.
“I haven’t learned anything new about the Yankees during this time. It has confirmed what I already thought,’’ the right-hander from Gonzaga wrote. “They are a first class organization and they take care of their guys and that’s been no different during this time. It was surreal seeing those dudes out helping us during this quarantine. I remember thinking, ‘Wow, this must be serious if these guys are helping us out.’ I appreciated that effort.’’
Smith praised the Yankees for their work, pointing out the players were kept informed.
“One thing I have learned about this organization is that its leaders really care about the players. No matter who you are they take care of you. Whenever we had questions they would answer them as soon as possible and keep us updated any chance they could,’’ Smith wrote. “The amount of times they went out of their way to help us can’t be forgotten. I knew the Yankees were first class, the best of the best, but this just proved that point even more.’’