Royals rookie Hosmer marvels at Yankee Stadium

Eric Hosmer said it took his breath away to walk out of the visitor’s dugout Tuesday and on to the field at Yankee Stadium.

Hosmer, Kansas City’s rookie first baseman, is a lifelong Yankee fan. His grandparents, Buddy and Epa Hosner, are residents of Cold Spring which is about an hour’s drive north from the stadium in Putnam County. It was at the old Yankee Stadium where he saw his first Major League baseball game while visiting from Florida.

Hosmer, one of the Royals' many prized young prospects, was called up last Thursday and went 3-for-9 in a three-game series in Kansas City against Oakland. He went 0-for-3 on Tuesday night against the Yankees.

Hosmer’s call-up had been expected this year, but not so early. He was so unprepared that he didn’t have a suit to wear on the team plane and had to borrow one from Jeff Francouer.

“To tell you the truth, I had to have someone help me with the tie,” Hosmer said with a laugh. “I guess it’s something I’m going to have to learn.”

And so goes the life of a rookie.