Aaron Judge says he was watching ‘a lot of chirping from our dugout, which I really didn’t like’ after Blue Jays announcers tried to stir up controversy about him by staring at the Yankees bench just before to make a home run of 462 feet
- Aaron Judge said he discussed the situation with his teammates after the game
- His teammates were expressing their displeasure with the umpire during the batting game
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Aaron Judge said he was trying to identify which of his Yankees teammates was yelling at home plate umpire Clint Vondrak when he peeked into his own dugout before hitting a 462-foot homer in Toronto Monday evening.
The Yankees slugger looked sideways for a moment before driving a 114.9 mph scorcher over right-hander Jay Jackson.
“There was a lot of chirping from our dugout, which I really didn’t like about the situation,” Judge said. New York led 6-0 at the time and then won 7-4.
Three pitches earlier, Vondrak ejected New York manager Aaron Boone for pleading a low strike call to the judge. Boone got out of the dugout to vent on Vondrak and team leader James Hoye.
Toronto broadcasters noticed Judge peeking into his own dugout before his home run and assumed he was looking for some kind of signal.
Aaron Judge was asked about watching the bench in a fight against the Blue Jays
After glancing off the bench, the judge completed a 462ft home run with an exit speed of 114.9mph
“It’s a little strange for a hitter to look that way,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said.
Judge said some of his teammates were still expressing their displeasure as his fight continued.
“I feel like after the manager does his thing, it’s like, ‘Guys, our pitcher still has to go out there and throw some pitches. We have the lead, just going to work here,” Judge said.
“I said a few things to some guys in the dugout and especially after the game. I hope this won’t happen again.
Boone said he understood the judge’s frustration with the distraction from the dugout.
“Judgie was kind of watching ‘I Knock Here,'” Boone said.
Judge hit two solo homers on Monday, his ninth and 10th of the season. It was his third multihomer match this year and the 30th of his career.
Judge has 30 homers against Toronto, his second-highest total against an opponent behind 35 against Baltimore.
