New York Yankees star Aaron Judge was criticized by a coach for allegedly snubbing a Staten Island Little League team during Sunday’s Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
South Shore Little League manager Bob Laterza claimed that Judge ignored his team during the event. Laterza mentioned that he had been promised a meet-and-greet with Yankees players at their hotel, but Judge was absent from the group, with DJ LeMahieu and Tim Hill showing up instead. The team also had the opportunity to meet manager Aaron Boone, as well as players Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes, and Jasson Dominguez, but Judge did not spend any time with them. Laterza further noted that Judge didn’t even acknowledge the kids with a wave during the game, despite their seats being directly behind home plate.
“How about turning around or waving to New York and the kids who consider you a hero?” Laterza remarked, according to Nick Regina of the Staten Island Advance. “They’re the ones who pay your salary. They were disappointed. Maybe he’ll want to make up for it and visit them.”
Laterza did express appreciation for the players who interacted with his team. For example, the Yankees’ official X account posted a video showing Cole spending considerable time talking with the Little Leaguers and signing autographs.
.@GerritCole45 x Staten Island Little League 🤝#LittleLeagueClassic pic.twitter.com/FWSgL5AHpD
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 18, 2024
Judge was undeniably the most sought-after player in Williamsport, with everyone eager for his attention. Photos and videos shared on social media throughout the day captured the Yankees star surrounded by kids as he signed autographs, never showing any signs of frustration. In one viral video from Sunday, Judge was seen playfully interacting with a Little Leaguer who requested he hit a 474-foot home run during the game.
"I'm going to need a 474-foot home run" 😭
📺 Yankees-Tigers at 7 ET on ESPN pic.twitter.com/QTZl12iWoK
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 18, 2024
If Laterza and his Little Leaguers expected to meet Judge and didn’t, it likely reflects a planning or communication issue on the Yankees’ part rather than any intentional slight by Judge. The outfielder had a full game to focus on, and his team is in a pennant race. While it would have been nice for him to acknowledge the kids with a wave, he was also busy with his own pre-game preparations in the on-deck circle. Players like Cole, who wasn’t pitching that day, had fewer responsibilities.
Judge is generally known for being fan-friendly and has even handled occasional boos from Yankees fans with grace. It seems improbable that he would have deliberately snubbed anyone in this situation.
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