Why Kyle Higashioka mentoring Austin Wells to be his Yankees replacement never got weird: ‘Eager to give back’

SAN FRANCISCO — There was no shortage of family reunion-ing going on this past weekend in San Diego when the Yankees visited the Padres for the first time since the Juan Soto blockbuster.

With Soto, Michael King, Trent Grisham, Kyle Higashioka, Wandy Peralta, Tyler Wade and Jhony Brito all facing their former teammates, there were plenty of hugs exchanged.

But early Friday afternoon, before the series began, there was Higashioka and Austin Wells catching up on the field at an empty Petco Park.

From the outside, the relationship seems like one that could have been awkward.