NEW YORK — White Sox left-hander Anthony Kay grew up on Long Island as a devout Yankees fan. His father often would take him and his brother on the hour-and-a-half drive from their home in East Setauket to the old Yankee Stadium.
On Wednesday, Kay will make his first career start at the new stadium, which opened in 2009, with about 20 family members and friends in the stands.
‘‘A huge part of my childhood was coming here with my dad and my brother,’’ said Kay, whose favorite player was pitcher Andy Pettitte, because he also was a lefty. ‘‘Being a massive Yankees fan was really fun.’’
Which made it all the more funny when the Mets drafted Kay twice — first out of Ward Melville High School in the 29th round in 2013, then out of Connecticut in the first round in 2016.
Kay, 31, has made two relief appearances at the new stadium, but this will be significantly more meaningful. His mother will see him pitch for the first time since he was with the Cubs in 2023.
She’ll see a pitcher who has been on a roll, allowing two earned runs or fewer in seven of his last eight outings. The one rough outing was with Kay’s brother on hand in Philadelphia, which might not bode well for Wednesday. Perhaps a mother’s power is stronger.
Whatever happens, it will be a special night for Kay, even though it won’t be in the Yankees’ ballpark of his youth.
‘‘There was just so much history at the old one, obviously,’’ he said. ‘‘Both are really amazing ballparks in their own way. I didn’t get a chance to play at that one, but it’s been fun to play at this one.’’
Grichuk’s ‘homecoming’
Sox outfielder Randal Grichuk is having a homecoming of his own, although certainly not as celebrated. He began the season with the Yankees, playing in 16 games for them before being released May 1. The Sox signed him May 4.
‘‘I haven’t seen that before or been a part of that,’’ Grichuk said. ‘‘I always loved playing here. The energy, the vibes, the stadium, everything’s great. I have a bunch of good friendships built in a short period of time over there. It’s great to come back and see some of those guys.’’
They include left-hander Max Fried (out with a bruised elbow), utilityman Amed Rosario and bench coach Brad Ausmus.
But Grichuk never was in the lineup consistently with the Yankees and never even pinch-hit. With the Sox, he already has almost doubled the at-bats he had with the Yankees and has six homers and 17 RBI. He had no homers and two RBI with the Yankees. There’s a correlation.
‘‘Being able to get consistent at-bats,’’ Grichuk said of the difference. ‘‘We could be up or down six in the eighth or ninth, and it could be that last at-bat — a lefty against a lefty — and we still pull the trigger. I’m preparing to get in there because I know I’m going to get in there.
‘‘[The Yankees] had a loaded bench, and I wasn’t first on the totem pole. I understood. . . . They said they needed players on the bench to have more flexibility. I totally got it. It’s business. It’s part of the game.’’
Notes
Left-hander Hagen Smith, the Sox’ No. 4-ranked prospect by MLB.com, has a shoulder impingement. He’ll be shut down for two weeks, then ramp back up for two weeks before resuming game action.
• Third baseman Miguel Vargas will appear on MLB Network’s ‘‘MLB Central’’ around 11 a.m. Wednesday. The network’s studios are in nearby Secaucus, New Jersey. Rookie right fielder Braden Montgomery appeared Monday.
• Fox picked up the Sox’ game Aug. 8 against the Guardians. First pitch is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. That’s also the day Ozzie Guillen’s No. 13 will be retired.