Yankees third-base coach Phil Nevin is pumped for 2018

New Yankees third-base coach, Phil Nevin is the anti-Joe Espada. With fire in his belly, Nevin’s passion for the game will be infectious on the base paths.

Throughout much of the early offseason, Phil Nevin was the early favorite to land the Detroit Tigers’ managerial job. Ultimately, the spot went to longtime Twins skipper Ron Gardenhire, allowing the Yankees to swoop in and name Nevin as their third-base coach.

Nevin, 46, managed the Triple-A Reno Aces from 2014-16, before his one season as third-base coach of the Giants.

Following the shakeup that was the 2017 Yankees’ coaching staff, one that saw Joe Espada take the Astros’ bench coach position, I was ecstatic. In the two seasons that Espada manned the all-important post, it never once looked as though he was comfortable.

An extended series of questionable send/stay situations made me long for the days of Willie Randolph. How Espada was ever mentioned in the conversation for Yankees’ manager is beyond me.

If you’re wondering how it is that Nevin came to be linked to Espada’s old job, it turns out Nevin and Aaron Boone’s older brother Bret, were high school teammates at El Dorada High in Placentia, CA.

Recently appearing on MLB Network, Nevin spoke about the “honor” it is to coach the Yankees, and the reason’s why he’ll succeed when others didn’t.

"“Aaron and I go back a little bit,” Nevin said. “I kind of grew up in the Boone house. When I went behind the plate to catch for a couple of years, [Boone’s father] Bob was the first guy I went to. The Boone family has always been special to me. We’ve always been close. To be able to get a chance to work with Aaron and be part of this is something special.“Whenever you hold up a runner, whether it was the right move or maybe the wrong move, they’re going to boo you.“When you send a runner and he gets thrown out, they’re going to boo you. When you send a runner and he’s safe, they’re never complimenting you. You were supposed to do it. But I love it. I want that pressure on me. Hopefully it’s just a lot more high-fives this year than having to make tough decisions.”"

The former 12-year big league veteran, and No. 1 overall pick by the Astros, never quite lived up to the hype of his initial billing as the 1992 Golden Spikes Award winner and College World Series Most Outstanding Player — however, Nevin played for seven different clubs, amassing a total of 4,703 plate appearances.

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During that time, Nevin slashed .270/.343/.472 with 208 home runs and 743 RBI — and was named to the 2001 NL All-Star team. For a guy that played five different positions, none of them exceptionally well, Nevin made the most of his talent, benefitting from a passion that still runs today.

As Nevin readies for his first Spring Training in pinstripes, I’m reminded of the time I had the chance to meet the Cal State Fullerton great. It was 1993, at the former Spring Training home of the Astros in Kissimmee, FL.

Back then, Nevin was still plying his trade as a catcher, and I was a 10-year-old that loved getting autographs. Sitting down the third-base line with my dad, hours before the actual start of a game, I spotted a player jut out of the dugout, tools of ignorance in tow.

As the hulking man began to make his way towards the outfield, I shouted, “Excuse me, sir. Can I please have your autograph?” That’s when the player turned around, and I realized it was Phil Nevin.

Nevin graciously made his way towards me, smiled and signed my baseball. I thanked him and ran back towards my father. Moments later I exclaimed that I had just gotten Phil Nevin’s autograph — my father was as equally excited.

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Little did I know, some 24 years later that moment in time would still bring a smile to my face because Nevin is now a part of my favorite team.