Nathan Ray Seebeck – Imagn Images
New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge is one of the best hitters in MLB history, at least during the regular season. The run he’s on the last few seasons is as good as any run in league history, and he’s off to a ferocious start again this year.
He should be off to an even better start, statistically, as he socked another home run on Sunday. But, it was mistakenly ruled foul, and even upheld after replay.
Judge exited Sunday’s game slashing .390/.495./.707, good for an OPS over over 1.200 and an OPS+ well into the mid-200’s. He’s socked a near-league leading seven homers, though that’s somehow slower than his overall pace the last few years. To sum it up, he’s been tearing the absolute cover off of the ball in the early going to help a Yankees team that is seeing shaky starting pitching.
The Bronx Bombers were wrapping up a four-game series at George Steinbrenner Field, their spring training home that is playing host to the Tampa Bay Rays this season while Tropicana Field recovers from Hurricane Milton damage. After a tough loss yesterday that saw prized acquisition Devin Williams blow a big lead, the Yankees were looking to win the series on Sunday.
They did just that, behind a stellar performance from Max Fried on the mound, winning 4-0. But, they should’ve won by more. take a look at this blast from Aaron Judge.
Was this Aaron Judge laser fair or foul?
It was ruled a foul ball and after review, the call stood. pic.twitter.com/UwUBIQNGkN
https://twitter.com/FiresideYankees/status/1914042207176475036?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1914042207176475036%7Ctwgr%5E5e8ef52b637f38e9961593758a82e935cf024be0%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbrobible.com%2Fsports%2Farticle%2Faaron-judge-yankees-home-run-ruled-foul%2F
That ball looks clearly fair when it clears the foul pole. To miss that call on the field is one thing, as those calls can be tough. To review and miss it is inexcusable.
New York manager Aaron Boone was ejected from the game after Judge struck out later in the at-bat, and for good reason.
Aaron Judge gets rung up and Boone gets ejected pic.twitter.com/N4A7rvDfpY
https://twitter.com/TalkinYanks/status/1914042772597756031?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1914042772597756031%7Ctwgr%5E5e8ef52b637f38e9961593758a82e935cf024be0%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbrobible.com%2Fsports%2Farticle%2Faaron-judge-yankees-home-run-ruled-foul%2F
Imagine if Judge goes nuclear this summer and gets close to 70 homers. People will look back at this play with added scrutiny.