WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.267 >> IN THE SPRING, HE STARTS A NEW SEASON WITH THE TWINS, A 00:00:01.268 --> 00:00:02.892 NEW SEASON WITH THE TWINS, A DECADE AFTER HITTING A HOME RUN 00:00:02.903 --> 00:00:05.495 DECADE AFTER HITTING A HOME RUN OFF THE FIELD MEETING HIS FUTURE 00:00:05.506 --> 00:00:05.905 OFF THE FIELD MEETING HIS FUTURE WIFE. 00:00:05.906 --> 00:00:07.940 WIFE. OH, WE ARE SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU 00:00:07.975 --> 00:00:08.898 OH, WE ARE SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU WITH US THIS MORNING. 00:00:08.909 --> 00:00:09.809 WITH US THIS MORNING. GOOD MORNING. 00:00:09.810 --> 00:00:10.843 GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING! 00:00:10.878 --> 00:00:12.936 >> GOOD MORNING! >> THIS IS SUCH A COOL STORY ON 00:00:12.947 --> 00:00:13.647 >> THIS IS SUCH A COOL STORY ON SO MANY LEVELS. 00:00:13.681 --> 00:00:14.137 SO MANY LEVELS. >> THANK YOU. 00:00:14.148 --> 00:00:15.882 >> THANK YOU. >> SO YOU ARE A MASCOT, AND THIS 00:00:15.883 --> 00:00:17.917 >> SO YOU ARE A MASCOT, AND THIS IS BACK IN 2015, AND THERE IS 00:00:17.919 --> 00:00:19.076 IS BACK IN 2015, AND THERE IS THIS CUTE PITCHER. 00:00:19.087 --> 00:00:23.189 THIS CUTE PITCHER. AND HOW DID IT -- HOW DID IT 00:00:23.191 --> 00:00:23.490 AND HOW DID IT -- HOW DID IT START? 00:00:23.491 --> 00:00:25.592 START? >> SO WE HAVE TO BE ON THE FIELD 00:00:25.593 --> 00:00:27.561 >> SO WE HAVE TO BE ON THE FIELD PREGAME, AND I HAD ANOTHER 00:00:27.595 --> 00:00:30.153 PREGAME, AND I HAD ANOTHER PLAYER COME UP TO ME AND ASK ME, 00:00:30.164 --> 00:00:31.021 PLAYER COME UP TO ME AND ASK ME, HEY, THERE IS SOMETHING REALLY 00:00:31.032 --> 00:00:32.499 HEY, THERE IS SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT I HAVE TO SHOW YOU. 00:00:32.500 --> 00:00:35.392 IMPORTANT I HAVE TO SHOW YOU. HE BROUGHT ME TO MY NOW HUSBAND 00:00:35.403 --> 00:00:38.405 HE BROUGHT ME TO MY NOW HUSBAND AND SAID, THIS IS MY FRIEND AND 00:00:38.406 --> 00:00:39.439 AND SAID, THIS IS MY FRIEND AND HE REALLY LIKES YOU. 00:00:39.440 --> 00:00:41.398 HE REALLY LIKES YOU. AT THE TIME, I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT 00:00:41.409 --> 00:00:43.100 AT THE TIME, I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT. 00:00:43.111 --> 00:00:45.479 TO DO WITH IT. I WAS VERY, NICE TO MEET YOU. 00:00:45.513 --> 00:00:45.836 I WAS VERY, NICE TO MEET YOU. BYE. 00:00:45.847 --> 00:00:46.946 BYE. AND I RAN OFF. 00:00:46.948 --> 00:00:48.682 AND I RAN OFF. >> YOU SAID, I’M NOT DATING 00:00:48.716 --> 00:00:49.716 >> YOU SAID, I’M NOT DATING BASEBALL PLAYERS. 00:00:49.717 --> 00:00:52.609 BASEBALL PLAYERS. I LIKE THIS JOB, AND ALSO IT’S 00:00:52.620 --> 00:00:53.019 I LIKE THIS JOB, AND ALSO IT’S FORBIDDEN. 00:00:53.021 --> 00:00:54.245 FORBIDDEN. >> THAT WAS OUR NUMBER ONE THING 00:00:54.256 --> 00:00:56.190 >> THAT WAS OUR NUMBER ONE THING ON OUR BADGES THAT WE WEREN’T 00:00:56.224 --> 00:00:58.148 ON OUR BADGES THAT WE WEREN’T ALLOWED TO SEEK FOR AUTOGRAPHS 00:00:58.159 --> 00:00:59.093 ALLOWED TO SEEK FOR AUTOGRAPHS OR TALK WHATSOEVER. 00:00:59.127 --> 00:01:00.618 OR TALK WHATSOEVER. THERE WAS OTHER EMPLOYEES THAT 00:01:00.629 --> 00:01:02.085 THERE WAS OTHER EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE BEEN TERMINATED BECAUSE OF 00:01:02.096 --> 00:01:02.319 HAVE BEEN TERMINATED BECAUSE OF IT. 00:01:02.330 --> 00:01:03.297 IT. >> SO WHAT HAPPENED? 00:01:03.331 --> 00:01:04.731 >> SO WHAT HAPPENED? >> I GOT VERY LUCKY. 00:01:04.732 --> 00:01:08.325 >> I GOT VERY LUCKY. I HAD AN AMAZING BOSS. 00:01:08.336 --> 00:01:10.093 I HAD AN AMAZING BOSS. WE HID IT FOR ABOUT A YEAR, YEAR 00:01:10.104 --> 00:01:10.470 WE HID IT FOR ABOUT A YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF. 00:01:10.472 --> 00:01:11.872 AND A HALF. I GOT CALLED IN THE OFFICE AND 00:01:11.873 --> 00:01:12.730 I GOT CALLED IN THE OFFICE AND THEY KIND OF KNEW. 00:01:12.741 --> 00:01:14.842 THEY KIND OF KNEW. I WAS LIKE, OH, WELL, THERE IS 00:01:14.843 --> 00:01:16.110 I WAS LIKE, OH, WELL, THERE IS MY JOB I GUESS. 00:01:16.144 --> 00:01:17.701 MY JOB I GUESS. BY THAT POINT WE KNEW IT WAS 00:01:17.712 --> 00:01:18.469 BY THAT POINT WE KNEW IT WAS VERY SERIOUS. 00:01:18.480 --> 00:01:20.414 VERY SERIOUS. WE WERE GOING TO BE TOGETHER 00:01:20.448 --> 00:01:21.748 WE WERE GOING TO BE TOGETHER LONG-TERM, SO I WASN’T UPSET 00:01:21.750 --> 00:01:22.340 LONG-TERM, SO I WASN’T UPSET ABOUT IT. 00:01:22.351 --> 00:01:23.674 ABOUT IT. >> AND THEN ONE NIGHT YOU ARE AT 00:01:23.685 --> 00:01:25.386 >> AND THEN ONE NIGHT YOU ARE AT A WORK EVENT IN ST. PETE? 00:01:25.387 --> 00:01:26.120 A WORK EVENT IN ST. PETE? >> YES. 00:01:26.154 --> 00:01:29.156 >> YES. SO I HAD TO -- SOUNDING VERY 00:01:29.157 --> 00:01:31.015 SO I HAD TO -- SOUNDING VERY SILLY -- BRING A GROUP OF 00:01:31.026 --> 00:01:32.626 SILLY -- BRING A GROUP OF MASCOTS DOWN TO DOWNTOWN ST. 00:01:32.661 --> 00:01:34.218 MASCOTS DOWN TO DOWNTOWN ST. PETE TO SHOW THEM AROUND. 00:01:34.229 --> 00:01:34.886 PETE TO SHOW THEM AROUND. >> AS ONE DOES. 00:01:34.897 --> 00:01:36.487 >> AS ONE DOES. >> IT IS A MASCOT PARTY. 00:01:36.498 --> 00:01:37.965 >> IT IS A MASCOT PARTY. >> THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT IT IS. 00:01:37.966 --> 00:01:40.191 >> THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT IT IS. AND I RAN INTO MY NOW HUSBAND 00:01:40.202 --> 00:01:40.692 AND I RAN INTO MY NOW HUSBAND DOWN THERE. 00:01:40.703 --> 00:01:42.236 DOWN THERE. SOMETHING HAPPENED TO WHERE I 00:01:42.270 --> 00:01:43.827 SOMETHING HAPPENED TO WHERE I COULDN’T GET HOME AND HE DROVE 00:01:43.838 --> 00:01:44.238 COULDN’T GET HOME AND HE DROVE ME HOME. 00:01:44.272 --> 00:01:45.529 ME HOME. THAT WAS A SATURDAY. 00:01:45.540 --> 00:01:47.508 THAT WAS A SATURDAY. WHEN HE DROPPED ME OFF, HE SAID, 00:01:47.509 --> 00:01:49.944 WHEN HE DROPPED ME OFF, HE SAID, I GUESS YOU OWE ME TO DATE NOW. 00:01:49.978 --> 00:01:51.869 I GUESS YOU OWE ME TO DATE NOW. WE WENT ON ON TUESDAY, AND THAT 00:01:51.880 --> 00:01:52.236 WE WENT ON ON TUESDAY, AND THAT WAS IT. 00:01:52.247 --> 00:01:56.984 WAS IT. >> WE HAVE TO BRING ERASMO IN. 00:01:56.985 --> 00:01:58.953 >> WE HAVE TO BRING ERASMO IN. HE’S NOT HERE BECAUSE HE’S DOING 00:01:58.987 --> 00:01:59.743 HE’S NOT HERE BECAUSE HE’S DOING SOME REHAB. 00:01:59.754 --> 00:02:01.512 SOME REHAB. WAS THAT HOW YOU REMEMBER IT? 00:02:01.523 --> 00:02:04.959 WAS THAT HOW YOU REMEMBER IT? YOU JUST RAN INTO EACH OTHER IN 00:02:04.993 --> 00:02:05.993 YOU JUST RAN INTO EACH OTHER IN ST. PETE ONE NIGHT? 00:02:05.994 --> 00:02:07.718 ST. PETE ONE NIGHT? FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, HOW DID 00:02:07.729 --> 00:02:09.220 FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, HOW DID YOU TWO FINALLY BECOME A COUPLE? 00:02:09.231 --> 00:02:10.021 YOU TWO FINALLY BECOME A COUPLE? >> HELLO. 00:02:10.032 --> 00:02:12.567 >> HELLO. HOW ARE YOU DOING? 00:02:12.601 --> 00:02:16.727 HOW ARE YOU DOING? WELL, TO ADD TO THE STORY 00:02:16.738 --> 00:02:19.197 WELL, TO ADD TO THE STORY BECAUSE I KNEW IT WAS A BIRTHDAY 00:02:19.208 --> 00:02:22.634 BECAUSE I KNEW IT WAS A BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR THE MASCOT OF THE 00:02:22.645 --> 00:02:26.046 PARTY FOR THE MASCOT OF THE RAYS, I KIND OF LIKE GUESSED, 00:02:26.048 --> 00:02:28.249 RAYS, I KIND OF LIKE GUESSED, HEY, THEY WILL BE IN DOWNTOWN. 00:02:28.250 --> 00:02:30.718 HEY, THEY WILL BE IN DOWNTOWN. BY THAT TIME, I KNOW A COUPLE 00:02:30.719 --> 00:02:34.045 BY THAT TIME, I KNOW A COUPLE PLACES THEY CAN BE. 00:02:34.056 --> 00:02:36.391 PLACES THEY CAN BE. >> YOU CRASHED THE MASCOT PARTY 00:02:36.425 --> 00:02:39.317 >> YOU CRASHED THE MASCOT PARTY TO PICK UP YOUR BRIDE. 00:02:39.328 --> 00:02:42.487 TO PICK UP YOUR BRIDE. >> WELL, SHE SAY NO BECAUSE, YOU 00:02:42.498 --> 00:02:45.199 >> WELL, SHE SAY NO BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE AROUND THE 00:02:45.234 --> 00:02:45.590 KNOW, WE ARE AROUND THE TEAMMATES. 00:02:45.601 --> 00:02:50.505 TEAMMATES. SO OUTSIDE THE STADIUM, WE CAN 00:02:50.539 --> 00:02:52.764 SO OUTSIDE THE STADIUM, WE CAN FINALLY TALK AND SAY MORE THAN 00:02:52.775 --> 00:02:54.909 FINALLY TALK AND SAY MORE THAN HI AND GOOD-BYE. 00:02:54.944 --> 00:02:57.769 HI AND GOOD-BYE. >> WOW. 00:02:57.780 --> 00:03:01.516 >> WOW. >> SO I KNOW A COUPLE PLACES, 00:03:01.550 --> 00:03:03.441 >> SO I KNOW A COUPLE PLACES, AND I KNOW THE OWNERS, SO I 00:03:03.452 --> 00:03:08.479 AND I KNOW THE OWNERS, SO I COULD GET IN AND GET OUT. 00:03:08.490 --> 00:03:11.192 COULD GET IN AND GET OUT. I’M LIKE, OKAY, THEY’RE NOT 00:03:11.193 --> 00:03:11.492 I’M LIKE, OKAY, THEY’RE NOT HERE. 00:03:11.494 --> 00:03:12.961 HERE. I WAS THINKING, THERE IS A PLACE 00:03:12.962 --> 00:03:14.329 I WAS THINKING, THERE IS A PLACE THAT HAS THREE LEVELS. 00:03:14.363 --> 00:03:15.587 THAT HAS THREE LEVELS. LET’S CHECK THAT ONE. 00:03:15.598 --> 00:03:16.230 LET’S CHECK THAT ONE. IT’S BIG ENOUGH. 00:03:16.265 --> 00:03:17.889 IT’S BIG ENOUGH. >> I JUST LOVE THAT YOU KNEW. 00:03:17.900 --> 00:03:19.868 >> I JUST LOVE THAT YOU KNEW. YOU LIKED HER FROM THE FIRST 00:03:19.869 --> 00:03:22.237 YOU LIKED HER FROM THE FIRST MOMENT YOU SAW HER AND THEN WENT 00:03:22.271 --> 00:03:22.994 MOMENT YOU SAW HER AND THEN WENT AND FOUND HER. 00:03:23.005 --> 00:03:23.638 AND FOUND HER. I LOVE THAT. 00:03:23.673 --> 00:03:24.596 I LOVE THAT. >> YES! 00:03:24.607 --> 00:03:29.545 >> YES! THAT’S A GREAT STORY. 00:03:29.579 --> 00:03:32.881 THAT’S A GREAT STORY. I MEAN, HERE WE ARE THREE KIDS 00:03:32.882 --> 00:03:33.181 I MEAN, HERE WE ARE THREE KIDS LATER. 00:03:33.182 --> 00:03:34.039 LATER. >> I KNEW THEN. 00:03:34.050 --> 00:03:36.117 >> I KNEW THEN. >> YOU KNEW THEN. 00:03:36.119 --> 00:03:37.453 >> YOU KNEW THEN. >> YOU KNEW RIGHT THEN AND 00:03:37.487 --> 00:03:39.945 >> YOU KNEW RIGHT THEN AND THERE, THIS IS GOING TO BE MY 00:03:39.956 --> 00:03:40.221 THERE, THIS IS GOING TO BE MY WIFE? 00:03:40.223 --> 00:03:41.814 WIFE? >> WELL, I WAS TRYING. 00:03:41.825 --> 00:03:44.025 >> WELL, I WAS TRYING. SHE DIDN’T JUST ALLOW ME AT THE 00:03:44.027 --> 00:03:44.360 SHE DIDN’T JUST ALLOW ME AT THE MOMENT. 00:03:44.394 --> 00:03:46.952 MOMENT. >> I WAS TRYING. 00:03:46.963 --> 00:03:48.696 >> I WAS TRYING. WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS GUY THAT 00:03:48.698 --> 00:03:50.098 WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS GUY THAT YOU LOVE SO MUCH? 00:03:50.099 --> 00:03:52.791 YOU LOVE SO MUCH? >> I LOVE HOW HE’S FUNNY, 00:03:52.802 --> 00:03:53.635 >> I LOVE HOW HE’S FUNNY, OBVIOUSLY, AS YOU CAN TELL. 00:03:53.636 --> 00:03:54.836 OBVIOUSLY, AS YOU CAN TELL. BUT HE’S VERY HUMBLE. 00:03:54.837 --> 00:03:56.404 BUT HE’S VERY HUMBLE. IF HE’S WALKING DOWN THE STREET, 00:03:56.406 --> 00:03:58.374 IF HE’S WALKING DOWN THE STREET, YOU WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO TELL 00:03:58.408 --> 00:04:00.232 YOU WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO TELL HE’S A MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL 00:04:00.243 --> 00:04:00.900 HE’S A MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYER. 00:04:00.911 --> 00:04:02.177 PLAYER. HE’S VERY KIND. 00:04:02.212 --> 00:04:05.471 HE’S VERY KIND. HE HAS A FAN BASE IN EVERY CITY 00:04:05.482 --> 00:04:05.914 HE HAS A FAN BASE IN EVERY CITY HE’S PLAYED IN. 00:04:05.915 --> 00:04:07.506 HE’S PLAYED IN. THAT’S THE ONE THING EVERYBODY 00:04:07.517 --> 00:04:07.816 THAT’S THE ONE THING EVERYBODY SAYS. 00:04:07.817 --> 00:04:10.185 SAYS. HE COMES IN, SMILES, DOES HIS 00:04:10.220 --> 00:04:11.277 HE COMES IN, SMILES, DOES HIS WORK AND HE’S FRIENDLY. 00:04:11.288 --> 00:04:13.045 WORK AND HE’S FRIENDLY. YOU WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO TELL 00:04:13.056 --> 00:04:15.114 YOU WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO TELL HE’S A FAMOUS BASEBALL PLAYER. 00:04:15.125 --> 00:04:16.125 HE’S A FAMOUS BASEBALL PLAYER. HE’S VERY FRIENDLY. 00:04:16.126 --> 00:04:17.226 HE’S VERY FRIENDLY. >> YOU HAVE THREE KIDS NOW. 00:04:17.227 --> 00:04:19.895 >> YOU HAVE THREE KIDS NOW. YOUR OLDEST IS ADDIE. 00:04:19.929 --> 00:04:21.653 YOUR OLDEST IS ADDIE. SHE’S IN SECOND GRADE. 00:04:21.664 --> 00:04:23.665 SHE’S IN SECOND GRADE. HI, SWEETIE. 00:04:23.667 --> 00:04:24.233 HI, SWEETIE. >> HEY. 00:04:24.234 --> 00:04:25.758 >> HEY. >> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR 00:04:25.769 --> 00:04:28.404 >> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR MOM AND DAD’S LOVE STORY? 00:04:28.438 --> 00:04:30.062 MOM AND DAD’S LOVE STORY? DO YOU LIKE HEARING ABOUT IT OR 00:04:30.073 --> 00:04:30.606 DO YOU LIKE HEARING ABOUT IT OR IS IT WEIRD? 00:04:30.640 --> 00:04:32.297 IS IT WEIRD? >> I KIND OF LIKE IT. 00:04:32.308 --> 00:04:36.011 >> I KIND OF LIKE IT. >> DO YOU WANT TO SAY HI TO DAD? 00:04:36.046 --> 00:04:38.871 >> DO YOU WANT TO SAY HI TO DAD? >> DADDY’S ON THERE. 00:04:38.882 --> 00:04:39.716 >> DADDY’S ON THERE. THERE’S DADDY. 00:04:39.749 --> 00:04:41.240 THERE’S DADDY. WE ACTUALLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY 00:04:41.251 --> 00:04:42.908 WE ACTUALLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF WHEN HE RE-SIGNED WITH THE 00:04:42.919 --> 00:04:45.044 OF WHEN HE RE-SIGNED WITH THE RAYS IN 2023, AS A FULL CIRCLE, 00:04:45.055 --> 00:04:49.158 RAYS IN 2023, AS A FULL CIRCLE, THE TEAM ASKED HER TO BE A MINI 00:04:49.159 --> 00:04:49.425 THE TEAM ASKED HER TO BE A MINI RAY. 00:04:49.459 --> 00:04:51.050 RAY. SO IT WAS LIKE A FULL CIRCLE. 00:04:51.061 --> 00:04:52.985 SO IT WAS LIKE A FULL CIRCLE. I STARTED OUT AS ALL THE 00:04:52.996 --> 00:04:54.487 I STARTED OUT AS ALL THE DIFFERENT MASCOTS, AND THEN SHE 00:04:54.498 --> 00:04:55.865 DIFFERENT MASCOTS, AND THEN SHE GOT TO BE ONE AS WELL. 00:04:55.866 --> 00:04:56.389 GOT TO BE ONE AS WELL. SO IT WAS FUN. 00:04:56.400 --> 00:04:57.967 SO IT WAS FUN. >> WELL, THAT’S A LOVE STORY 00:04:57.968 --> 00:04:58.558 >> WELL, THAT’S A LOVE STORY RIGHT THERE. 00:04:58.569 --> 00:05:01.537 RIGHT THERE. AND YOU GOT TWO OTHER LITTLER 00:05:01.571 --> 00:05:02.428 AND YOU GOT TWO OTHER LITTLER ONES AT HOME. 00:05:02.439 --> 00:05:03.973 ONES AT HOME. IT IS FUN TO HAVE YOU HERE. 00:05:03.974 --> 00:05:04.764 IT IS FUN TO HAVE YOU HERE. THANK YOU. 00:05:04.775 --> 00:05:06.199 THANK YOU. GOOD LUCK WITH THE SEASON AND 00:05:06.210 --> 00:05:07.943 GOOD LUCK WITH THE SEASON AND YOUR REHABBING, AND WE WILL BE 00:05:07.978 --> 00:05:08.668 YOUR REHABBING, AND WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR YOU. 00:05:08.679 --> 00:05:10.170 LOOKING FOR YOU. >> GOOD TO SEE YOU! 00:05:10.181 --> 00:05:11.804 >> GOOD TO SEE YOU! GLAD YOU DIDN’T GIVE UP. 00:05:11.815 --> 00:05:13.449 GLAD YOU DIDN’T GIVE UP. GLAD YOU DIDN’T GIVE UP. 00:05:13.483 --> 00:05:13.883 GLAD YOU DIDN’T GIVE UP. >> OH, I KNOW.