New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge leads the MLB in almost every statistical category, and fans don't have much to complain about, except for Staten Island Little League coach Bob Laterza, who apparently has a bone to pick with the baseball superstar.
The situation came about when the Yankees faced off with the Detroit Tigers on August 18, and while the major league team was at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania on Sunday, the coach felt that Judge did not spend enough time or pay attention to his team's players.
In particular, when Judge was in the on-deck circle, Laterza said that the Yankees star ignored the kids, when they were calling his name from the seats right behind him.
"How about turning around or wave to New York and the kids that think you're a hero,'' Laterza, who coaches the South Shore Little League team, told silive.com. "They are the ones who pay your salary."
"I don't put any weight into the comments," Judge said Wednesday. "I play in front of 40,000 fans every single night and get booed if I go 0-for-1."
Aaron Judge on Little League coach Bob Laterza, who called the Yankees captain out:
"I'm not gonna give him a response because it's about the kids. All I can say is they like me better.” pic.twitter.com/XkYgXLZCl1
— New York Porch Sports (@nyporchsport) August 21, 2024
"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, besides the loss, so I kind of want that to be the focus."
Yankees Aaron Boone stuck up for his player, "I'm not even going to dignify that with a response, Aaron Judge is as good as it gets with everyone."
The Yankees also released a statement about the their visit to Little League World Series.
"Our entire roster spent the day in Williamsport connecting with as many Little Leaguers as they possibly could, including the team from Staten Island."
Related: Yankees' Aaron Judge Ripped By LLWS Coach For Bailing On Meet-And-Greet
