PHOENIX — If you are a fan of the Arizona Diamondbacks, finding someone to root for may be a bit tough.
On one hand, you have the rival Los Angeles Dodgers. On the other, you have the dreaded New York Yankees. Not favorable options for serpientes supporters.
So if you're going to watch the 2024 World Series, who will you root, root root for if your home team isn't in the game? How about two players with Arizona ties? According to the Associated Press, the Yankees have a pair of Arizona-born players on their roster.
Catcher Austin Wells was born in Scottsdale, Ariz. and outfielder Alex Verdugo was born in Tucson.
Wells, 25, played two seasons at the University of Arizona before being drafted by the Yankees in 2020 in the first round of the MLB Draft (28th overall). He made his MLB debut on Sept. 1, 2023.
Verdugo is 28 years old and was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second round of the 2024 MLB Draft. He was playing baseball at Sahuarto High School in Tucson when he was drafted. Verdugo also originally committed to Arizona State University before being chosen by the Dodgers.
The Yankees acquired Verdugo from the Boston Red Sox in a trade in December 2023.
So while the D-backs won't be in the World Series this year, fans can still cheer on some Arizona athletes as they play for a World Series title.
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