When the New York Yankees signed Adam Ottavino, they made history in a way that only a few could’ve predicted: they issued the No. 0 jersey for the first time ever. And this wasn’t just a quirky fluke—this was a personal choice for Ottavino, who had never been particularly tied to a number growing up. In fact, it was his dad who first suggested the idea of rocking the zero. His logic? The zero looked like an O for Ottovino. 

While he may have had a fresh start in New York, his journey with the number dates back a bit further, all the way to his rookie year with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2010. Back then, Ottavino tried to claim No. 0 for himself, but the team wasn’t quite ready to make that bold move. In fact, they turned down his request, opting for more traditional digits instead. 

Recalling why the Cardinals didn’t give Adam Ottovino the number he wanted   

When Adam Ottavino joined the Yankees and proudly donned the No. 0 jersey, it wasn’t just a fun, quirky choice—it was a long-awaited full-circle moment. But the path to that number wasn’t always smooth. In a recent episode of ‘Baseball isn’t Boring‘, free agent reliever Adam Ottavino joined Rob Bradford to discuss the legacy of wearing #0, reflect on this past season, his time with the Mets, and much more. When Bradford asked why the Cardinals refused to give him that number, he said, ‘They didn’t like me at all. I feel like if more established players would have asked for it, they probably would have given it.”  

Ottavino first broke into the big leagues with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2010. He made a daring request at the time: the 39-year-old requested No. 0, a number that had never been used by the squad. But Ottavino was unexpectedly rejected rather than given the all-clear. It appears that the Cardinals weren’t quite convinced by Ottavino right away.

Ottavino actually believed that his treatment was determined by that refusal. The #0 pitcher didn’t receive the cordial reception he was hoping for—in fact, he wasn’t even assigned a parking space. A parking spot may seem insignificant, but it shows how the team treated him more like an “emergency call-up” than a legitimate member of the squad. 

What is the pitcher going to do now? 

After hitting free agency, the 38-year-old right-hander, who was formerly with the New York Mets, is open about his future. He told The Denver Post, “This is the first year I’ve had to face the facts that I’m probably a lot closer to the end than I realized. I’m not going into the offseason worrying about anything, but I still want to play and I’m definitely open to playing (in 2025).”  

“I’ve had my heart starting to dream a little bit on managing,” Ottavino confessed, hinting at the idea that he’s starting to imagine life beyond pitching: “I’d be unorthodox, but I think I could get unorthodox results. Most of the managerial moves nowadays are pitching moves, especially with the bullpen, and I feel like I’ve been doing that for 14 years out there.” For someone who has worked in the bullpen for more than ten years, it’s a logical next step. 

Ottavino has seen it all; the tactical choices about when to use relievers, how to position oneself against hitters, and how to handle workloads can make or break a game. Although it may seem unusual, the concept of a pitcher becoming a manager is not unheard of. During his 21 years in the dugout, legendary Dodgers captain Tommy Lasorda leaped, winning two World Series and four pennants. Bud Black, Ottavino’s former manager, is currently in charge of the Rockies and similarly made the move from pitcher to manager.