A Yankees record for rookie infielder Jorbit Vivas

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Under the bright lights of Sunday night baseball, Jorbit Vivas delivered what statisticians now confirm as the longest RBI plate appearance in Yankees history since 1988. His 11-pitch war of attrition, which altered the game’s momentum, is the most ever by a team player that preceded a go-ahead run in the 8th inning or later, in 37 years.

While Max Fried’s pitching gem and Cody Bellinger’s grand slam grabbed headlines in Sunday’s Subway Series finale, the true turning point came from the most unexpected source. Jorbit Vivas, a 24-year-old Venezuelan rookie, etched his name permanently in New York Yankees lore through sheer determination and an at-bat that rewrote franchise history.

The at-bat that shifted everything

With the crosstown rivals deadlocked at 2-2 in the eighth inning and Yankees runners stationed at second and third with one out, few expected a defining moment when Vivas – inserted as a defensive replacement for Oswald Peraza at third base – stepped into the batter’s box against Mets reliever Ryne Stanek and his triple-digit fastball.

What unfolded next became an instant classic in Yankees-Mets folklore.

After quickly falling behind 0-2, Vivas refused to yield. He took a ball, spoiled three consecutive pitches, worked two more balls to even the count, then defensively fought off another pair of 100-mph heaters. On the 11th pitch, Vivas grounded toward Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, who sailed his throw home, allowing Jasson Domínguez to cross with the go-ahead run.

The official scorer recorded it merely as a fielder’s choice with an error, not even a hit. But according to Katie Sharp of Sports Reference, Vivas had accomplished something far greater: the most pitches seen in a go-ahead, late-inning RBI plate appearance by any Yankee since pitch tracking began in 1988.

Manager and teammates recognize pivotal performance

Though Cody Bellinger’s subsequent grand slam formally sealed the Mets’ fate in what became an 8-2 Yankees victory, both Bellinger and manager Aaron Boone identified Vivas as the true catalyst.

“Vivas, what an AB, man,” Boone remarked after the game. “You could see his adjustment, like the third or fourth pitch in, you felt him settle in. Some great takes, some great battles. He gave us a chance to make something happen.”

Bellinger, who finished with six RBIs, offered an even more definitive assessment:

“He 100 percent won us that game.”

Joining Subway Series folklore

The storied Yankees-Mets rivalry has produced numerous unlikely heroes – Dave Mlicki, Matt Franco, Mr. Koo – and now Jorbit Vivas joins this exclusive fraternity of unexpected difference-makers.

His clutch performance symbolizes not only personal tenacity but his entire professional journey. Recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on May 2 following Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s injury, Vivas wasn’t projected as a game-changer. In fact, he carried just a .167 average (5-for-30) through 15 appearances before Sunday night.

Baseball, however, often rewards persistence with singular, career-defining moments.

“To be honest, I’m really just trying to make contact there,” Vivas explained through a translator afterward. “He’s throwing 100 miles per hour. So I don’t want to do too much, just help the team and put the ball in play.”

From minor trade piece to major moment

Vivas began his professional journey in the Los Angeles Dodgers system, spending six developmental seasons there before joining the Yankees organization via a 2023 trade. His initial Triple-A stint last season produced modest results – a .225 average across 93 games – tempering expectations for 2025.

Then something clicked.

Before his promotion, Vivas was hitting at a .343 clip in Triple-A, displaying enhanced plate discipline and line-drive consistency – precisely the qualities that defined Sunday’s pivotal at-bat. While his major league numbers remain developing, his comfort against elite pitching grows increasingly evident.

The significance beyond statistics

Vivas’ achievement transcends mere numbers, highlighting the resilience and organizational depth that championship-caliber teams require throughout a marathon season. The Yankees, now 27-19 and leading the AL East, have weathered significant injury disruptions, with Jazz Chisholm, Oswaldo Cabrera, and Giancarlo Stanton all sidelined.

Vivas’ capacity to deliver in a pressure-packed moment – even without recording a traditional hit – underscores the importance of player development and organizational conviction.

Boone distilled it elegantly, noting that Vivas didn’t come up to the majors just to sit around, but rather to compete, which is exactly what he did that night.

Broader implications in the Subway Series

For the Yankees, capturing two of three from their crosstown rivals represented more than neighborhood bragging rights. It demonstrated that even without Juan Soto’s presence in the lineup, and with several key contributors on the injured list, depth and clutch execution can sustain success.

Conversely, the Mets were left lamenting not only Alonso’s errant throw but their inability to retire Vivas despite unleashing five pitches exceeding 100 mph in a single confrontation.

A Legacy Built on Resilience

Jorbit Vivas’ long-term Yankees future remains uncertain. With Chisholm’s expected return and others ahead on the depth chart, his role could fluctuate significantly.

Yet regardless of what follows, his place in Yankees history is now secured – not through a towering home run or spectacular defensive play, but through an 11-pitch masterclass in determination on one of baseball’s grandest stages.

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