The Yankees team captain told reporters after the game that Gardner was like a 'second' dad to several players

The New York Yankees played—and won—on Opening Day with heavy hearts after the death of former Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner's 14-year-old son Miller, who tragically passed away after falling ill on a family vacation in Costa Rica.

Cortes had been a core member of the Yankees for the past few years, now he has to face the guys he calls friends. It will be the first time he has to face Aaron Judge, who he is close friends with, and who he avoided facing the only other chance they had to face each other. Technically, Cortes has faced Aaron Judge at the plate before.

Officials are backtracking in their preliminary findings in their investigation into the death of New York Yankee’s star Brett Gardner’s son Miller. While Costa Rican officials initially said the 14 year old died of asphyxia,

Miller Gardner, the 14-year-old son of former Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner, tragically passed away at a resort in Costa Rica during a family vacation, and his loved ones have been mourning ever since.

After Brett and Jessica Gardner announced the death of their 14-year-old son Miller last weekend, Aaron Judge began getting calls and texts from players who came up through the Yankees organization with him.

New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells started the 2025 season on a high note. Wells hit a home run to open the Yankees' clash with the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday, becoming the first catcher in MLB history with a leadoff homer on Opening Day.

There was a somber tribute Thursday at the Yankees home opener for 14-year-old Miller Gardner, who died last week while vacationing with his family in Costa Rica.

With no words to say to fully capture the heartbreak, the Yankees held a moment of silence for Miller Gardner before Thursday’s Opening Day.