The New York Yankees have strongly refuted claims made by Staten Island Little League coach Bob Laterza, who accused Aaron Judge of ignoring his team during a visit to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on Sunday. Laterza criticized Judge for allegedly not interacting with his players, which he felt set a poor example for the young athletes.
In response, the Yankees issued a statement defending Judge and their entire roster, highlighting their commitment to engaging with Little League players throughout the day, including those from Staten Island. The Yankees emphasized that Judge is a role model not just for his on-field achievements but for his dedication to positively impacting young fans.
The statement underscored that the Yankees players, including Judge, spent significant time with the Little Leaguers, providing them with a memorable experience. The Yankees also noted that their players did not organize the schedule, and despite Staten Island playing that day, the team made an effort to connect with them before their game against the Detroit Tigers.
The Yankees expressed their disappointment that Coach Laterza chose to publicly criticize Judge instead of reaching out to discuss the matter privately. They suggested that Laterza could learn from Judge’s example of kindness and respect.
Laterza’s accusations were contradicted by videos on social media and the ESPN broadcast, which showed Judge interacting with numerous Little League players. Although Laterza acknowledged that other Yankees players, including DJ LeMahieu, Gerrit Cole, and Nestor Cortes, spent time with his team, he maintained that Judge did not.
Judge, who was surrounded by excited fans throughout the visit, expressed a desire to have spent more time with the kids but noted that the moments he did share with them were meaningful.
