One of the greatest pitchers in the history of the New York Yankees is stepping up to the plate for an iconic New Yorker.
Legendary closer Mariano Rivera endorsed former President Donald Trump in the 2024 Election on Monday, according to The Denver Gazette.
The Baseball Hall of Famer was speaking on WABCās āSid & Friends in the Morningā Monday radio broadcast.
Rivera cited his own personal friendship with Trump ā which precedes the billionaireās entrance into presidential politics.
āPresident Trump, heās my friend,ā Rivera said.
āI canāt deny that. I will tell that to anyone. Before he was the president, he was my friend,ā he continued.
āBecause heās my friend, Iām going to vote for him.ā
Rivera framed his endorsement as beyond partisan politics ā saying it isĀ āthe right thing for the country.ā
Trump went on to thank Rivera for the endorsement in a Truth Social post.
Trump awarded Rivera the Presidential Medal of Freedom in a 2019 ceremony, citing his success on the Baseball diamond, as well as his philanthropic endeavors.
Rivera has testified openly of his faith in Jesus Christ throughout much of his adult life.
This is his first formal endorsement, although his relationship with Trump isnāt new.
A mainstay of the Yankeesā late 1990ās dynasty, Rivera is the all-time Major League Baseball leader in saves, according to Baseball Reference.
A native of Panama, Rivera was signed to a contract with the Yankees organization in 1990.
The dominant closer was naturalized as a United States citizen in 2015 ā after finishing a career that included thirteen different All-Star Game appearances and five World Series championships.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.