Yankees captain Aaron Judge is a favorite both in the clubhouse and outside. In fact, he is the linchpin of strong camaraderie within the team, both on the diamond and off. Recently, Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. shared a glimpse into the team’s downtime, revealing their shared passion for video games, particularly MLB The Show.
In a standout clip, Aaron Judge, the Yankees’ star slugger, was captured facing off against teammate Gleyber Torres in the popular game. The slugger emerged victorious, much to the amusement and cheers of his fellow teammates, including Chisholm, who were all gathered to watch the action.
Aaron Judge’s skills in the virtual arena appear to echo his real-life dominance on the field. Currently, he leads the Yankees in several key offensive categories, including 44 home runs and 111 RBIs. He also tops the team’s charts in batting average, on-base percentage, and hits, further solidifying his status as one of the league’s top performers.
After a challenging stretch in June following a strong start to the season, the Yankees have found new energy, thanks in part to Chisholm’s arrival from Miami at the trade deadline. Though he has been dealing with injuries, Chisholm has made an immediate impact since joining the team in July, hitting .316 with seven home runs in just 57 at-bats.
Yankees push back on Little League coach’s Aaron Judge tirade
The New York Yankees have firmly denied accusations made by Bob Laterza, coach of the Staten Island team in the Little League World Series, regarding their perceived lack of attention during the team’s visit to Williamsport for the Little League Classic against the Detroit Tigers.
Laterza expressed disappointment that Aaron Judge did not acknowledge the young players who called out to him from their seats during the game. He suggested that as a prominent public figure supported by fans, Aaron Judge should have been more attentive.
These remarks were surprising, given Aaron Judge’s well-established reputation for fan engagement, particularly with children, both at Yankee Stadium and on the road.
Laterza also criticized the overall interaction between the Yankees and the Little League teams, noting that only a few players, such as DJ LeMahieu and Tim Hill, attended a scheduled meet-and-greet. He added that others, including Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes, Jasson Dominguez, and manager Aaron Boone, met with the Staten Island team later at Bowman Field.
The Yankees swiftly issued a strong response, providing a different version of the day’s events. In a statement released Tuesday, the organization emphasized that the entire Yankees roster spent the day in Williamsport engaging with as many Little Leaguers as possible, including the Staten Island players.
The team praised their players for devoting their full attention to the hundreds of young athletes in attendance, highlighting that from the moment they arrived in Williamsport until the day’s end, the Yankees were fully committed to ensuring the experience was meaningful and memorable for the young baseball players and their families. The statement underscored the organization’s dedication to making the interaction with Major League stars a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Little Leaguers.
The New York Yankees highlighted that Aaron Judge did, in fact, participate in a group photo with the Staten Island team, including one of their players, before the game.
According to sources familiar with the event, Judge and several of his teammates spent the afternoon signing autographs for Little League players after Staten Island’s game.
The Yankees clarified that neither the team nor its players were involved in organizing the day’s schedule. They emphasized that, despite Staten Island’s Sunday game, the Yankees players made a special effort to connect with the team right before their own matchup against the Detroit Tigers.
The Yankees’ statement read: “Aaron Judge is one of the great ambassadors of our sport. He is a role model worth celebrating – not simply because of his skills and accomplishments on the field – but because of the way he wholeheartedly embraces making a positive impact on those who look up to him. Our entire roster spent the day in Williamsport connecting with as many Little Leaguers as they possibly could prior to our game, including the team from Staten Island. We commend all of our players for devoting their complete attention to the hundreds of kids who literally walked step-by-step alongside them from the moment the Yankees landed in Williamsport through the entirety of the evening. Our players were unequivocally committed to making the experience what it was intended to be – a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for young baseball players and their families from around the world to have meaningful and genuine interaction with some of Major League Baseball’s greatest players. Neither the Yankees nor our players organized the schedule on Sunday. In fact, because Staten Island played on Sunday our players went out of their way to spend time with them in the moments immediately before our game with the Tigers. We wish Staten Island success in winning the championship. Win or lose, we intend to invite them to Yankee Stadium. However, it would have been much better if Staten Island’s Coach called us to understand the facts before bitterly reacting in such a public fashion. Reaching out to us would have been the prudent way to act and would have set a fine example for his young players. Aaron Judge always acts with kindness and respect. The coach could learn a lot from him.”
Despite the criticism from Coach Laterza, the Yankees reaffirmed their intention to invite the Staten Island team to Yankee Stadium after the Little League World Series concludes. They also expressed hope for Staten Island’s success in the championship.
The Yankees expressed disappointment in the way the situation was handled by the coach, suggesting that a direct conversation with the team would have been a more constructive approach. They noted that reaching out to understand the full context before making public statements would have set a better example for the young players.
The statement concluded with praise for Aaron Judge’s consistent display of kindness and respect, subtly implying that the coach might take a cue from the slugger’s conduct. This closing remark reinforced the Yankees’ defense of their star player and their dissatisfaction with the public criticism.
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