Aaron Judge denied key out after unfortunate Yankees fan interference

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ANAHEIM, Calif. — Just when Aaron Judge found his rhythm back in right field, the baseball gods added another twist. In a bizarre and frustrating moment during Wednesday night’s game against the Los Angeles Angels, a Yankees fan — clad in none other than a Judge jersey — reached over the railing and disrupted what could’ve been a key out.

The timing couldn’t have been worse. The play was clean, the ball was drifting foul near the right field line, and Judge was tracking it with precision. Then came the reach. The glove never closed around the ball. Instead, the fan’s interference ended the play prematurely. The umpiring crew quickly ruled the obvious: fan interference. Out erased. Momentum lost.

And just like that, the New York Yankees found themselves robbed not by their opponent, but by one of their own. Still, the Yankees went on to win 3-2.

A familiar chaos along the right field line

The right field has always seemed to follow Aaron Judge with drama. From miraculous plays to moments that define seasons, the corner at ballparks across the league carries a unique tension when Judge is stationed there.

This week’s incident added another chapter. The location might’ve been Angel Stadium, but it echoed moments burned into the Bronx’s recent memory — particularly the infamous 2024 World Series interference at Yankee Stadium. That miscue remains fresh among fans, players, and coaches.

Back then, interference cost the Yankees a vital moment in a high-stakes postseason game. Now, months later, history repeated itself in a less consequential game, but with the same frustration.

What sets this apart, however, is the irony — a Yankees fan, repping Judge’s jersey, created the disruption. And yet, in true Aaron Judge fashion, there was no visible anger. No confrontation. No protest. Just a long, quiet walk back to his spot in the outfield.

Judge’s dangerous return to right field?

Judge’s current return to right field is more than just positional rotation — it’s part of a broader shift in the Yankees’ defensive alignment. In 2023, his time in right ended abruptly with a violent collision at Dodger Stadium that left him with a torn toe ligament and cost him 42 games. The Yankees, who were already struggling, never recovered that season.

So in 2024, the Yankees made the adjustment. Judge spent most of his time in center field, with Juan Soto covering right. That realignment proved successful — minimizing injury risk and maximizing coverage.

But now in 2025, things have shifted again. Juan Soto has left, and Judge has resumed duties in right. It was a move made with confidence, backed by manager Aaron Boone, who addressed concerns directly.

“No, he’s going to play right field,” Boone said on Talkin’ Yanks, brushing off any speculation that the Yankees would change course over injury fears. And statistically, the move is working.

According to Baseball Savant, Judge currently boasts a positive “Outs Above Average” (OAA) in right — a clear sign that not only is he healthy, he’s thriving defensively.

Yankee flashbacks before Dodger Stadium return

Timing is everything. The Yankees are now preparing for a trip to Dodger Stadium, the same venue where Judge’s 2023 season was derailed. While fans might feel uneasy, the team appears unfazed.

The series brings high stakes, with the Dodgers boasting their powerhouse trio of Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Mookie Betts. Still, their rotation is limping, giving the Yankees a chance to seize control.

Unlike the battered squad that limped to the finish line last year, the 2025 Yankees are stacked with firepower. Paul Goldschmidt’s veteran presence, Ben Rice’s clutch bat, and Cody Bellinger’s lefty pop have reinvigorated the lineup. Max Fried, the prized offseason addition, has emerged as an ace-level arm anchoring the rotation.

But even amid the resurgence, the Yankees must still deal with the unpredictability that seems to follow Judge around right field.

Fan interference: A growing problem?

Incidents like Wednesday’s spark broader questions about fan behavior — especially in stadiums with low barriers. MLB has made minor rule adjustments over the years, but there’s still a gray zone when it comes to plays in foul territory. When do fans have the right to catch a ball? When do they cross the line?

More importantly, should teams do more to educate fans on staying out of live plays? Perhaps the Yankees, already burned twice by fan interference in the span of a year, will lead the call for change.

The Yankees leave Anaheim with their eyes set on L.A. The rematch with the Dodgers is about more than just regular-season standings. It’s symbolic — a chance to rewrite what went wrong two years ago when injuries and misfortune derailed a promising campaign.

Aaron Judge, now healthy and productive, will take right field again. He’ll do so knowing the risks. But as he’s shown time and again, he’s not one to shy away from challenges — even when those challenges come from fans wearing his own name on their backs.

The Yankees will need every inch of composure, talent and luck to navigate the upcoming stretch. But if they can keep fan interference off the box score, they just might return from the West Coast with momentum in hand.

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

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