TORONTO — Aaron Boone and Tim Wakefield will forever be intertwined in baseball history, and the Yankees manager had the former Red Sox knuckleballer on his mind Thursday.
On Wednesday, the news came out that Wakefield and his wife are battling serious health issues, with Wakefield being diagnosed with brain cancer, former teammate Curt Schilling said on his podcast — without Wakefield’s permission, the Red Sox later said in a statement.
“Tim was such a great player in his day, but obviously a guy that’s really well respected and well liked and loved around the baseball world, in our baseball fraternity,” Boone said Thursday before a 6-0 loss to the Blue Jays.
“My heart goes out to him, my prayers go out to him and his family. It’s sobering to hear those things. Also one of those things in life that comes up that always makes you have a little bit of perspective on what you get to do each and every day.
“I know Wake’s going to have a lot of support. I hope he knows he has it around the whole baseball community and certainly us with the Yankees.”
In the nearly 20 years since Boone hit a walk-off homer against Wakefield in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, the two former players have crossed paths plenty, with Boone appreciating their conversations.
“I really love catching up with him because he’s a good dude, easy to be around,” Boone said. “He’s somebody that I really like and certainly respect a lot.”
Anthony Rizzo (post-concussion syndrome) is continuing to make progress in his rehab, with Boone saying he considers the veteran first baseman a healthy player heading into the offseason.
“His last checkup or testing was all where it needed to be,” Boone said. “He’s doing really well. He’s already getting after it from a workout standpoint. Feel like he’s heading into the winter healthy and ready to do everything he needs to do to be the Anthony Rizzo we know heading into spring training.”
Carlos Rodon will make his final start of the season Friday against the Royals, trying to go out on a high note after a frustrating season in which he missed time with forearm, back and hamstring injuries.
Clarke Schmidt and Michael King will follow Rodon in the series to finish the season.
A day after all but wrapping up the AL Cy Young award with a complete-game shutout, Gerrit Cole treated himself to taking one round of batting practice.
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