Star New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge is headed for free agency this offseason after blasting an American League record 62 home runs during the regular season. He’s undoubtedly going to be getting a large and lucrative contract wherever he signs, but Yankees fans understandably want him back in New York. And on Tuesday, he gave a strong indication that he wants to stay.
After Judge blasted a first-inning home run during Tuesday afternoon’s postseason elimination game against the Cleveland Guardians in Game 5 of the American League Division Series, Judge went back to the dugout and kissed the Yankees logo on his chest right in front of the television camera.
KISSING THE LOGO pic.twitter.com/nIsVrssxpk
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) October 18, 2022
“It was for the fans. I’ve been watching a lot of Premier League soccer games and I think that kind of got the best of me,” Judge said of his decision to kiss the logo after the game, according to Joon Lee of ESPN. “The fans brought the energy tonight from the very first pitch.”
It was quite a moment for Judge and the Yankees, and the Major League Baseball world had plenty to say about it on Twitter.
Lifetime contract pic.twitter.com/Pth5do1MEx
— Tommy Smokes (@TomScibelli) October 18, 2022
Yeah he ain’t leaving pic.twitter.com/AERFvuZqqV
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) October 18, 2022
give judge the 20 years 1 billion dollar contract https://t.co/mpYvSNqC1E
— sean yoo (@SeanYoo) October 18, 2022
stay with us for 100 years Aaron https://t.co/teVNqLGl0c
— evan romano (@EvanRomano) October 18, 2022
pic.twitter.com/95BwJbC08b pic.twitter.com/Btl8wBiFIA
— Nick Parco (@nick_parco) October 18, 2022
Of course, Judge still has to make a final decision about his future with the team after the season. But it sure looks like he wants to remain a New York Yankee.
