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Kyle Higashioka was drafted by the Yankees in the 2008 First Year Player Draft and was assigned to the Gulf Coast League, but before he went to the GCL, the Yankees brought him to the Bronx to meet the team and experience the original Yankee Stadium in its last season.
“Getting to experience the old stadium before it closed down was incredible,” Kyle recalled. “It was also amazing to be able to hit with all the Major League guys and just hang out with them in that historic clubhouse.”
Kyle joined the Thunder for the last seven games at the end of the 2012 season playing for Tony Franklin and enjoying the large crowds and the Thunder fans. In 2013 Kyle started the season with the Thunder and he hit .320 when he was injured. “2013 was a year of mixed emotions. I played well when I was healthy, but in May I blew out my elbow and had Tommy John surgery and I was out until August of 2014. When I came back, I saw my arm strength return and it probably was even better than before.”
Kyle returned to the Thunder in 2016 and batted .293 with 31 Runs, 15 Doubles, 11 Home Runs, and 51 RBI in 61 Games. On April 26th of that year, he caught the first ever 9 inning No-Hitter by the Thunder in Trenton, thrown by Ronald Herrera and Jonathan Holder. Kyle remembered how special the year was. “I think my best memories of 2016 were definitely catching the No-Hitter in Trenton and winning the Triple-A National Championship at the end of the year with Scranton. The No-Hitter was particularly special because it was the first ever 9 Inning No-Hitter that I caught up to that point”.
In 2017, Kyle made his Major League debut with the Yankees. He hit his first Home Run off of David Price and it was also his first Major League hit. As a matter of fact, his first three hits with the Yankees were home runs, and he was only the second player in Yankees history to accomplish that feat. ”I was so nervous when I first got called up I could barely see straight,” Kyle remembered that game. “After going hitless for so many at bats, that Home Run was such a weight off my shoulders and the guys gave me the silent treatment in the dugout which was pretty funny”.
Not that many catchers have had the opportunity to catch one No-Hitter but Kyle had the combined No-Hitter with the Thunder and then in 2021 he caught Cory Kluber’s No-Hitter and in 2023 he caught former Thunder Pitcher Domingo German’s Perfect Game. “I feel extremely fortunate to have caught these games. Not only does the starting pitcher have to be on their best day and the catcher has to have everything go their way”.
At the end of the 2023 Season Kyle switched leagues when he was traded to the Padres along with former Thunder Pitcher Michael King and the team had a great year going to the playoffs and Kyle contributing with some timely home runs. After becoming a Free Agent at the end of 2024, Kyle signed with the Texas Rangers.
We had to ask Kyle one last thing: What were his favorite memories of Chase, Derby and Rookie. “I loved Chase, Derby & Rookie. My favorite thing was just being able to play with them in the clubhouse. I love dogs so they were great companions to have around in our free time in the clubhouse, and to have them retrieve our bats.”
