Yankees’ Aaron Judge Responds to Little League Coach Who Called Him Out

New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge is beloved for his citizenship on and off the field. Teammates, coaches, and major league executives publicly and privately rave about his character. He is almost universally beloved.

Almost.

A Staten Island Little League coach took umbrage with Judge’s absence at a meet-and-greet that included several Yankees players during the Little League Classic on Sunday.

According to the Staten Island Advance, Yankees players DJ LeMahieu and Tim Hill met with Little Leaguers at the International Grove in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, site of the annual championship tournament for 11- and 12-year-olds.

Later Sunday, the Little Leaguers had a chance to meet other Yankee players before a game between the Yankees and Detroit Tigers at 2,366-seat Bowman Field in Williamsport. Current Yankees Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes and Jasson Dominguez, manager Aaron Boone, and retired Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher all participated.

But not Judge.

According to the report in the Advance:

(The Staten Island Little Leaguers) had hoped that their seats behind home plate would allow them an interaction with him in the on-deck circle, but Laterza says No. 99 ignored the youths bellowing his name from some 10 to 20 feet away.

“How about turning around or wave to New York and the kids that think you’re a hero?” chimed Laterza. “They are the ones who pay your salary.”

“They were disappointed,” he added. “Maybe he’ll want to make up for it and come and see them.”

Given a chance to respond Wednesday, Judge had a simple response.

“I’ve got no response for that,” Judge said, according to the Associated Press. “I’m not gonna give him a response because it’s about the kids. This is what it’s all about.”

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In a statement, the Yankees said “our entire roster spent the day in Williamsport connecting with as many Little Leaguers as they possibly could, including the team from Staten Island.”

The Tigers beat the Yankees 3-2 in extra innings in the Little League Classic.

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“We got a chance to spend a lot of time with quite a few kids in Williamsport, make some great memories. Had a great time at the game, you know, besides a loss,” Judge said. “So I kind of want that to be the focus.”

While Judge might not have felt comfortable furthering the silly war of words, Boone was willing to chime in on his star player’s behalf.

“I’m not even going to dignify that with a response,” Boone told reporters. “Aaron Judge is as good as it gets with everyone.”