New York Yankees star Aaron Judge was accidentally struck in the face by a throw from his teammate Anthony Volpe after five innings during a 12-6 defeat to the New York Mets on Saturday. Judge, who was scheduled to bat sixth, showed up after the game with a small bandage near his right eye and some bruising around it but assured everyone he was okay.
The incident happened when Yankees players were tossing the ball around while heading to the dugout. Volpe, the shortstop, threw the ball high toward Judge, who was jogging in from right field. Judge seemed to be looking elsewhere and got hit in the face, knocking off his sunglasses. Yankees manager Aaron Boone admitted confusion at first and expressed concern when he saw what happened.
The Yankees are struggling this season, suffering six consecutive losses, marking their worst stretch. Boone described the week as "terrible," and noted that the team recently endured two separate six-game losing streaks for the first time since 2000. Judge, the team captain, emphasized the need for better fundamentals and daily solid play routines, saying, "We know what we need to do. We take care of the business."
Report by Associated Press.
Fan Take: This incident and the Yankees’ ongoing struggles highlight the challenges even top teams face with performance consistency and team coordination. For baseball fans, it serves as a reminder that hard work on fundamentals and teamwork remains crucial, and watching how the Yankees regroup could influence the competitive landscape of the sport this season.