Dobbins Clarifies Father’s Alleged Yankees Career Amid Controversy

The Boston Red Sox-Yankees rivalry has always been wild, but this week, rookie pitcher Hunter Dobbins managed to stir up something different. Before his first start against New York, Dobbins made waves by saying he’d rather retire than ever pitch for the Yankees.

That wasn’t all, though. He also shared stories about his dad’s supposed Yankees connections—stories that didn’t really check out. Now, Dobbins finds himself answering questions about his comments, his father’s baseball past, and, of course, the pressure of playing against the Yankees.

Hunter Dobbins’ Bold Statement Sparks Controversy

Dobbins jumped right into Red Sox lore by promising he’d never wear pinstripes, even if it meant quitting. In a rivalry this heated, that kind of talk doesn’t just fade away. Then he told the Boston Herald that his dad, Lance Dobbins, got drafted by the Yankees twice, was traded to the Diamondbacks, and even hung out with Andy Pettitte.

The Yankees Connection: A Family Story Unravels

But when the New York Post started digging, things got messy. Official records, like those on Baseball-Reference, didn’t back up Hunter’s version of Lance’s Yankees ties.

Turns out, Lance pitched only two seasons (1996-97) in the Diamondbacks’ minor league system. The 2025 Red Sox media guide doesn’t mention any Yankees connections, either.

When pressed, Hunter admitted he’d just repeated family stories without checking them out. “I never fact-checked my dad’s stories,” he said. He insisted he didn’t mean to mislead anyone.

The Historic Rivalry Adds Fuel to the Fire

Honestly, it’s not shocking that all this drama feels bigger because it’s the Yankees and Red Sox. This rivalry is loaded with history and emotion.

For a rookie like Dobbins, the Yankees are a chance to make his own mark. He even admitted, “It’s a bigger deal because of the teams involved.”

Dobbins’ Response: Focus on the Field

Dobbins is trying to keep his head in the game. He’s 3-1 with a 4.20 ERA, which isn’t too shabby for a rookie still finding his footing.

While the media keeps circling back to his dad’s story, Dobbins says he’s just focused on his next start against New York.

He plans to talk things over with his dad, but right now, he’s more interested in getting better and soaking up the energy that comes with this rivalry. For a young pitcher, keeping calm in the middle of Yankees-Red Sox chaos might be the toughest test yet.

The Takeaways from the Hunter Dobbins Story

The tale of Hunter Dobbins is a wild reminder of just how deep the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry runs. It’s funny how off-field stories can suddenly steal the spotlight.

Dobbins is juggling his rookie season and all this new attention. Here are a few takeaways:

• Rivalry passion can blow up even the smallest controversies.
• Family stories—true or not—shape how people see you and sometimes cause headaches you never expected.
• If you’re a young athlete, you need focus and resilience to handle distractions and keep performing.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Dobbins defends claim father played for Yankees