Aaron Judge didn’t want to make a big deal of things.
The Yankees star heard the recent comments by former teammate and new Mets star Juan Soto. But the 6-foot-7 superstar isn’t known for adding to any controversy.
This is what Soto said:
“It’s definitely different,” Soto said of not hitting in front of Judge. “I had the best hitter in baseball hitting behind me. I was getting more attacked and more pitches in the strike zone, less intentional walks and things like that. I was pitched differently last year.”
Some took that to mean Soto was knocking the hitters around him in his new lineup.
Judge pushed back on that idea.
“He’s got probably one of the best hitters in the game behind him right now with what (Pete) Alonso is doing. It’s been fun to watch,” Judge said. “He’s hitting [.345] and driving the ball all over the field, driving guys in. So they’re going to be just fine.”
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Judge added some advice for his former teammate.
“I’ve seen Soto now watching the league for so many years,” Judge said, “and getting a chance to see him up close — he can look at what I did last April for an example of, he just needs to keep being himself. He’s going to be just fine.”
Judge has six home runs in the early going, compared to just two for Soto.
The Yankees wanted to keep Soto, but $765 million from the other side of town helped lure him away.
“You can’t replace a guy like Soto. He’s 1 of 1,” Judge said. “That’s why he signed the deal he did.”
You can consider this controversy over.
But the rivalry that’s sure to blossom between the two best hitters in New York City? At least on the field, that’s just beginning.
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