NEW YORK — After a Staten Island Little League coach lambasted Aaron Judge over the weekend for allegedly shunning his players, the New York Yankees star refused to acknowledge the coach’s comments.
On Monday, South Shore Little League manager Bob Laterza slammed Judge for not spending time with the children he had coached the day before during the MLB Little League Classic.
“How about turning around and waving to New York and the kids who 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 his team, the report said. Laterza added that Judge ignored his players when they called his name from 10 feet away, the report added, while the Yankees were taking on the Detroit Tigers and losing 3-2.
The judge had nothing to say against Laterza.
“I haven’t gotten an answer to that,” Judge told reporters Wednesday before a game against the Cleveland Guardians at Yankee Stadium.
“I’m not going to give him an answer because it’s about the children. That’s what it’s all about.”
Aaron Judge is overwhelmed at the Little League World Series stadium. photo.twitter.com/WOL4xSXWYP
— Randy Miller (@RandyJMiller) August 18, 2024
Judge was spotted signing autographs and posing for photos with many Little League players from various teams before Sunday’s game.
“We got a chance to spend a lot of time with some of the kids in Williamsport and make some memories,” Judge said. “We had a great time at the game, other than the loss. I want that to be the focus.
“Really, like I said, I don’t care about the reactions. I play in front of 40,000 spectators every night and I get booed when I go 0-for-1.”
Manager Aaron Boone also put Laterza on edge.
“I’m not even going to answer that,” Boone said. “Aaron Judge is as good as it gets.”
Judge’s parents, Wayne and Patty, were named 2024 Little League Parents of the Year on Sunday.
“We wish Staten Island the best of luck in winning the championship,” the Yankees said in a statement to the New York Post on Tuesday. “Whether they win or lose, we plan to invite them to Yankee Stadium. However, it would have been much better if Staten Island’s coach had called us to understand the facts before he reacted so bitterly in such a public manner. Contacting us would have been the wisest course of action and would have set a good example for his young players. Aaron Judge always conducts himself in a friendly and respectful manner. Coach could learn a lot from him.”
(Top photo of Aaron Judge in Williamsport: Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
