Red Sox Rookie Hunter Dobbins Vows to Retire Before Joining Yankees in Rivalry Showdown

Boston Red Sox rookie pitcher Hunter Dobbins is set to take the mound against the New York Yankees in the Bronx on Sunday night, bringing a fiery loyalty to the Sox that runs deeper than the Charles River. The 25-year-old right-hander, drafted by Boston in 2021 out of Texas Tech, isn’t just playing for a paycheck—he’s carrying a family legacy.

“My dad was a die-hard Red Sox fan,” Dobbins told reporters. “I’ve said it before: if the Yankees were the last team offering me a contract, I’d hang up my cleats and retire.” That’s not just talk—it’s a pledge etched in New England granite. Despite not being as fanatical as his father, Dobbins admitted his disdain for the pinstripes shaped his fandom. “I watched anybody but the Yankees,” he quipped.

Still, there’s a twist: Dobbins has a soft spot for one Yankee. “Andy Pettitte and my dad were really good friends,” he revealed, sparing the former Yankees pitcher from his list of least favorites. It’s a rare moment of cross-rivalry warmth in a feud that’s been simmering since Babe Ruth swapped jerseys.

In his debut season, Dobbins has shown promise with a 4.06 ERA over 44.1 innings, striking out 37 while walking just 10. With a 1.331 WHIP, he’s no stranger to pressure, and Sunday’s start against the first-place Yankees (39-24) is a chance to prove it. The Red Sox (31-35) are coming off a 10-7 win over New York on Saturday, and Dobbins is poised to keep the momentum going in this storied AL East clash.

While careers in baseball can be unpredictable, Dobbins dreams of a long tenure with Boston, far from the Bronx’s bright lights—unless he’s there to spoil the Yankees’ day.