NEW YORK — After a Staten Island Little League coach dissed Aaron Judge for allegedly shunning his players over the weekend, the New York Yankees star refused to acknowledge the coach’s comments.
On Monday, South Shore Little League manager Bob Laterza ripped Judge for not spending time with the kids he managed at the MLB Little League Classic the day prior.
“How about turning around or wave to New York and the kids that think you’re a hero?” Laterza said, according to a report from the Staten Island Advance. “They are the ones who pay your salary.”
Laterza said that Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes and manager Aaron Boone were among the Yankees who met with his team, the report said. Laterza added that Judge ignored his players as they shouted his name from 10 feet away, the report added, as the Yankees faced the Detroit Tigers and lost 3-2.
Judge didn’t have anything to say to Laterza.
“I got no response to that,” Judge told reporters Wednesday before a game against the Cleveland Guardians at Yankee Stadium.
“I’m not going to give him a response because it’s about the kids. That’s what it’s all about.”
Aaron Judge mobbed entering Little League World Series ballpark. pic.twitter.com/WOL4xSXWYP
— Randy Miller (@RandyJMiller) August 18, 2024
Judge was seen signing autographs and posing for pictures with many Little Leaguers from various teams before Sunday’s game.
“We got a chance to spend a lot of time with quite a few kids in Williamsport, make a few memories,” Judge said. “Had a great time at the game besides the loss. I kind of want that to be the focus.
“Really, like I said, I don’t put any weight into the comments. I play in front of 40,000 every night and I get booed if I go 0-for-1.”
Manager Aaron Boone also shut down Laterza.
“I’m not even going to dignify that with a response,” Boone said. “Aaron Judge is as good as it gets.”
Judge’s parents, Wayne and Patty, were named the 2024 Little League Parents of the Year on Sunday.
“We wish Staten Island success in winning the championship,’’ the Yankees said in a statement to the New York Post on Tuesday. “Win or lose, we intend to invite them to Yankee Stadium. However, 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. Reaching out to us would have been the prudent way to act and would have set a fine example for his young players. Aaron Judge always acts with kindness and respect. The coach could learn a lot from him.”
(Top photo of Aaron Judge in Williamsport: Joe Sargent / Getty Images)
