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BRONX TIMES REPORTER, APR. 8-14, 2022 BXR
New Settlement – a nonprofit organization
that aims to break systemic barriers,
advance justice, promote leadership and
strengthen neighborhoods in the Bronx
– announced on Tuesday that its Community
Center will now be home to the New
York Yankees’ famed ‘Bronxie the Turtle.’
Bronxie, a male red-eared slider turtle,
was adopted by New York Yankees pitcher
Nestor Cortes in late September of last
year. Shortly after adopting Bronxie, the
Yankees went on a seven-game winning
streak, earning the turtle his title as the
team’s lucky clubhouse teammate.
After bringing excitement to the
Bronx’s home team, Bronxie’s next mission
is to root for the local community
from his new home at New Settlement’s
Community Center – located just 12 blocks
from Yankee Stadium – and serve as a
champion for the organization’s mission
to advance initiatives in education, employment,
housing, wellness and creative
expression, and help cultivate an equitable
society.
“My teammates and I are so happy
that Bronxie has found such a great home
so close to Yankee Stadium, where he can
be cared for by the staff and children at
New Settlement,” Cortes said. “Bringing
the little guy into our clubhouse last
year brought our team together when we
needed it most, and I know he’s going to
have the same effect on the kids who get
Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson is congratulated in the dugout after
scoring a run against the Toronto Blue Jays. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
to see him and look after him every day.
We are no doubt going to miss him but we
know Bronxie is going to get a lot of love
from his new family.”
Bronxie will live on the second floor
of New Settlement’s Community Center
near the organization’s reading nook,
which provides a space for local youth
to enjoy a selection of books. Gus Stavroulakis,
director of Community Health
Initiatives, and Melany Falcon, a Membership
Services representative, will
oversee care for Bronxie, alongside other
New Settlement staff and young people
from the organization’s after-school program.
“As an organization that is rooted in
serving the Bronx community, we are
thrilled that the New York Yankees chose
New Settlement as Bronxie’s new home,”
said Rigaud Noel, executive director of
New Settlement. “We’re excited to welcome
him to our Community Center,
where he will cheer on community members
and the youth we serve through our
education initiatives. We also offer our
appreciation to the Yankees for providing
the resources for his new habitat.”
Red-eared sliders get their names
from having red stripes where their
ears would be and by having the ability
to slide off rocks and logs into water
quickly.
-Bronx Times
Bronxie, a male red-eared slider turtle adopted by New York Yankees pitcher Nestor Cortes in late
September 2021, has found a new home at New Settlement. Photo courtesy Adrianna Killip
AIDAN GRAHAM
The Yankees enter the MLB
season with a loaded roster of
power hitters and a deep bullpen
as the team looks to end their 12
year World Series drought.
Fans will see a number of returning
favorites for the 2022-23
season, including DJ LeMahieu
and Aaron Judge, along with
some new faces in the clubhouse
like Josh Donaldson.
Also returning is fan-favorite
Anthony Rizzo at first base,
who inked a $32 million contract
for 2 years this offseason
after speculation that the team
could look for an upgrade at
the position, with many insiders
linking the team to former-
Brave Freddie Freeman, who
ultimately signed a massive
contract with the Los Angeles
Dodgers.
Still, the high-powered offense
in the Bronx has given
oddsmakers enough reason
to be bullish on the Yanks’
chances this year, with popular
betting site FanDuel Sportsbook
pegging the pinstripes at
+1300 odds to hoist the Commissioner’s
Trophy (meaning gamblers
would win $13 for every $1
wagered).
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That puts the Yankees as the
7th most likely team to win the
championship this season, just
ahead of the New York Mets,
who boast +1500 odds.
The team’s success will
largely be dependent on their
top-heavy offensive game. Last
season, the team’s top 4 hitters
— LeMahieu, Judge, Giancarlo
Stanton and Gleyber Torres —
recorded a combined 576 hits,
out of the team’s total 1,266 on
the season. All 4 men will be returning
to the Bronx for the upcoming
season.
Meanwhile, the 33-year-old
shortstop LeMahieu, along with
29-year-old Judge, led the team
in RBIs last year, with 98 and 97,
respectively.
The continuity among the
Yankees’ roster this offseason
will surely benefit the team,
who fell to their rival Boston
Red Sox in a single-elimination
playoff game last postseason.
The team will open their season
on Friday, April 8 against
Boston, after inclement weather
projections halted their scheduled
opener on Thursday.
Thus far, the team’s Opening
Day defense looks to be:
C Kyle Higashioka
1B Anthony Rizzo
2B Gleyber Torres
SS Isiah Kiner-Falefa
3B Josh Donaldson
RF Aaron Judge
CF Aaron Hicks
LF Joey Gallo
DH Giancarlo Stanton
As of now, right-hander Gerrit
Cole is expected to start the
Yanks’ first game on Friday.
Cole went 16-8 last season, while
recording a 3.23, and allowing
151 and 24 home runs.
Behind Cole in the Yankees
bullpen, fans will see righty
Jordan Montgomery, along with
the often-injured Luis Severino.
Aroldis Chapman will see
the mound most as the team’s
closer.
The Yankees organization
heads into the season with the
3rd highest payroll in the major
leagues, behind only the Mets and
Dodgers, which has given fans
even more reason to demand onfield
success from the pinstripes.
The franchise’s last World Series
win came in 2009, and the
team has failed to even win the
ALCS since — marking an uncharacteristic
drought for the
team, which has a renowned-record
of success.
As the team from the Bronx
hopes to compete this season,
they’ll face tough competition
from a number of big-spending
teams, including many in their
own division — like the Red Sox,
Blue Jays and Rays.
High-powered Yankees enter the
season with big expectations
New York Yankees’ ‘Bronxie the Turtle’ finds new home