ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — When Jahmai Jones got back to the Yankees clubhouse after Sunday’s game, the entire team was waiting for him to celebrate his first career home run, which may or may not have included getting showered with beer.
The hubbub in the clubhouse was still going on by the time reporters met with manager Aaron Boone in his office after the 10-6 win over the Rays at Tropicana Field.
But also waiting for Jones at his locker was a text from his mom, Michele, on Mother’s Day.
“She just said, ‘I’m so happy for you,’ ” Jones said. “ ‘The fact that you did it on Mother’s Day is special. Can’t wait for a phone call later.’ ”
When he was almost 14, Jones lost his dad, Andre, to a brain aneurysm.
From that point on, Jones’ mom had “to take a lot of different things on to keep everything as normal as it could be” for him and his five siblings.
On Sunday, Michele was watching from the family’s home in Georgia when her son, making just his second start of the season, hit his first career home run that helped spark the Yankees’ win.
“My mom means a lot to me,” Jones said. “We’ve been through a lot together. To do it on this day, I can’t really put it into words. It’s something I’ll never forget and I can’t wait to give her a call after this.
“Without her, I wouldn’t be here, for sure.”
The Yankees were overjoyed for Jones, both when he got back to the dugout after homering and then in the postgame clubhouse.
The 26-year-old, whom the Yankees claimed off waivers during spring training, had taken only six at-bats this season before Sunday, when he started in left field for Alex Verdugo.
Boone said he “probably unfairly” had not played Jones enough, but praised the second baseman/left fielder for his attitude throughout.
“Brings the same energy to the field every single day,” Boone said. “You go through a long season, you don’t want energy suckers. You want people that give energy each and every day. And he does that. He’s accepted his role, he works hard, he’s ready at any moment for any situation. It’s exciting to be able to get him in there today and have him deliver like he did. I know the boys appreciate that.”
The way they celebrated Jones after the game — “Good activity, fun team stuff, dawg stuff,” Jose Trevino said — only confirmed that.
“He’s a guy working really hard,” Gleyber Torres said. “He got an opportunity to play today and he did amazing. That’s the beautiful part of playing baseball.”
Jones, who later drew a walk and was hit by a pitch, got the ball back from the fan who retrieved his home run in the left-field seats.
Asked whether he had been frustrated by his limited role this season, Jones smiled.
“It’s kind of hard to have a bad day,” he said. “I love it. I love baseball, I love being part of this team. We’re winning and that’s all that matters. Wherever I fit in is exactly what I’m trying to do. As long as the team’s winning, you’re never going to not see me smiling.”