Brad Ausmus Comes Full Circle: From Connecticut Kid to Yankees Bench Coach
In 1987, the New York Yankees used their 48th-round pick—1,152nd overall—to select a wiry, bright-eyed high school catcher from Cheshire, Connecticut. On paper, Brad Ausmus was a long shot to ever reach the majors. In reality, he carved out an 18-year career that defied every scouting projection, becoming one of the most respected backstops of his generation.
A career .251 hitter with one All-Star nod, Ausmus will never see his plaque in Cooperstown—but his ties to the Hall of Fame remain strong. Just this summer, Billy Wagner thanked him by name during his induction speech. “He told me he was going to give me a shout-out,” Ausmus said, grinning. “It’s really cool. I’m very appreciative and so happy for Billy.”
Over the years, Ausmus caught some of baseball’s greatest arms—Wagner, Randy Johnson, Trevor Hoffman—and even handed the ball to future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw. He shared dugouts with legends like Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, and Tony Gwynn, all while earning a reputation as one of the game’s smartest, steadiest leaders behind the plate.
Pinstripes and Perspective
Now 56, Ausmus is in his second season as bench coach for the New York Yankees, a role that puts him at the right hand of manager Aaron Boone. It’s not quite the Hall of Fame, but for Ausmus, working at Yankee Stadium feels like a daily brush with baseball history.
“Coming to Yankee Stadium every day, wearing the pinstripes, that’s kind of a different animal,” he said from the dugout. “Last year was a blast—we went to the World Series—but I was still ‘the new guy.’ This year, I’m settled in. I know the names, the faces, and exactly what’s expected of me.”
His job description is simple in theory, complex in practice: be Boone’s sounding board. “Before games, during games, in the clubhouse—it’s all about preparing and making sure we’re aligned,” Ausmus explained. “That’s the most important part of my role.”
It’s a position without the crushing spotlight of a manager’s job, but one that still demands a steady hand—especially in a season that’s tested the Yankees. Once seven games up in the AL East, they now trail division-leading Toronto and cling to the final AL Wild Card spot. Still, Ausmus believes: “There’s too much talent here. Guys work, they prepare. This is a winning team with a championship in it.”
A True Homecoming
For Ausmus, wearing the Yankees uniform carries an extra layer of nostalgia. New York was the team that drafted him, and he spent four years in its minor-league system before being taken by Colorado in the 1992 expansion draft. One familiar face still remains from those days—general manager Brian Cashman, then a young baseball operations assistant.
Though he now lives in San Diego, Ausmus’ roots remain in New England. He hasn’t been back to Cheshire since his father’s passing, but his sister still lives there and occasionally makes it to games. His daughters work in New York City, and he still owns a place on Cape Cod, where he spent summers as a Red Sox fan before fate led him into Yankee pinstripes.
Asked if he wants to manage again, Ausmus doesn’t hesitate: “Yes. But right now, I’m completely focused here. Working for the Yankees is different. Every game feels like October baseball. Every game matters. You thrive on that competition.”
For a Connecticut kid who once seemed like an afterthought in the draft, it’s been quite a journey—one that’s brought him back to where it all began, in the dugout of the Bronx, at the center of the game’s biggest stage.
⏩ You may also love: Boston Red Sox Shirts
