In a delightful twist, the Yankees had a familiar and experienced pilot leading their flight to Tampa. Clarke Schmidt’s dad, Dwight, who has been a Delta pilot for almost three decades, took charge of the Yankees’ team charter from Newark Airport. This news quickly spread among the team members and created a buzz of excitement. Schmidt shared his experience with reporters at Tropicana Field, expressing the joy and novelty of the flight. For many players, it was an opportunity to visit the cockpit and witness things they had never seen before.
This was not Dwight’s first time piloting the Yankees’ team charter. He had previously done so for their memorable “Field of Dreams” game in Iowa in 2021. However, for Schmidt, the right-handed pitcher who had recently been assigned to Triple-A before that trip, this flight held a special significance. Reflecting on the experience, Schmidt commended his father’s piloting skills, describing the journey as smooth sailing, despite some crosswinds during landing.
Delta had approached Dwight and extended an invitation for him to pilot the plane. He gladly accepted the offer, granting him the opportunity to watch his son start Saturday’s game against the Rays. Manager Aaron Boone, who had the chance to experience a flight simulator with Dwight a week prior when the team was in Atlanta, also expressed his enjoyment of the experience. Boone described Dwight as an engaging and genuinely good person.
Aside from the joy of having a familiar face in the cockpit, the Yankees saw an additional benefit in tackling reliever Wandy Peralta’s fear of flying. Peralta had the chance to explore the cockpit before takeoff, and the team believes that this experience helped alleviate some of his anxiety. Schmidt humorously shared that Peralta appeared calmer and less apprehensive during the flight. Some players even joked that they felt safer with Schmidt’s dad at the helm, as he had a personal investment in the airplane. The Yankees are hopeful that they made progress in helping Peralta overcome his fear during this journey.
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