The New York Yankees strongly defended Aaron Judge after Staten Island Little League coach Bob Laterza accused the MLB star of ignoring young fans during the Little League Classic over the weekend. The controversy arose after Laterza claimed that Judge failed to acknowledge his team during the event at Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pa., where the Yankees played against the Detroit Tigers.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Yankees refuted the coach’s allegations, emphasizing that Judge and his teammates made a concerted effort to engage with the little leaguers present. According to the Yankees, Judge, widely regarded as “one of the great ambassadors of our sport,” went above and beyond to connect with as many kids as possible, including those from Laterza’s Staten Island team.
“Aaron Judge always acts with kindness and respect,” the Yankees stated. “The coach could learn a lot from him.”
The Yankees also extended their best wishes to Laterza’s team, who were competing in a championship but were later eliminated on Tuesday. As a gesture of goodwill, the team invited the Staten Island players to visit Yankee Stadium at a future date.
However, the Yankees did not shy away from criticizing the way Laterza handled the situation. They suggested that the coach should have approached them directly to clarify the facts before making public accusations. “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,” the statement continued. “Reaching out to us would have been the prudent way to act and would have set a fine example for his young players.”
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The controversy began when Laterza publicly criticized Judge, 32, for allegedly not acknowledging his Little Leaguers, despite the efforts of Judge’s teammates Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes, and Jasson Dominguez, who took the time to greet the young fans. Laterza claimed that his players called out to Judge, but their attempts were met with silence.
“How about turning around or waving to New York and the kids that think you’re a hero?” Laterza said in an interview with the Staten Island Advance. “They are the ones who pay your salary.”
When asked about the situation ahead of Wednesday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians, Judge declined to address Laterza’s comments directly. “I got no response for that. I’m not going to give him a response because it’s about the kids,” Judge said in a statement released through the team. He emphasized the positive experiences shared with the young fans, saying, “This is what it’s all about. We got a chance to spend a lot of time with quite a few kids in Williamsport, make some great memories.”
The incident has sparked debate among fans and commentators, with many defending Judge’s character and pointing out his long-standing reputation for being generous with his time, especially when it comes to young fans. As the dust settles, the focus remains on the positive impact events like the Little League Classic have on aspiring young athletes, and the Yankees hope to continue fostering those connections in the future.
