Los Angeles Angels star and 2021 American League MVP, Shohei Ohtani made a big early impression in Tuesday’s series opener against the New York Yankees, hitting a two-run home run in the first inning.
On Wednesday, it was Aaron Judge, 2022’s American League MVP, who made his presence felt in the first inning.
First, it was his glove that did the talking. Ohtani appeared to have a first-inning home run for the second day in a row, when he drove a 3-2 pitch from Jhony Brito over the centerfield wall. Judge, though, had other ideas, robbing the homer.
A closer look showed that this was no typical home run robbery. First, Judge leaped and reached over the wall with his glove hand, knocking the ball back into the field of play. Then, Judge used his right hand to secure the barehanded catch.
Aaron Judge robs Shohei Ohtani of a homer! ⚾️🔥 pic.twitter.com/D8J0EyEQRh
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) April 19, 2023
And while Judge preserved a 0-0 tie in the top of the first inning, he broke it in the bottom half of the frame.
In the bottom half of the first, Judge came up with a man on and nobody out. He worked the count full, then sent the 3-2 offering from Griffin Canning over the wall.
This one was not coming back.
After robbing Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge crushes a homer! ⚾️💣 pic.twitter.com/g4tRY8eXsS
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) April 19, 2023
Judge’s incredible inning was deservedly praised by baseball fans on Twitter.
Air Judge
📸: @Yankees pic.twitter.com/f8ZXrm7mvr
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) April 19, 2023
MVP on MVP crime. Judge is other worldly pic.twitter.com/Q8BskRU023
— The Short Porch (@short_porch) April 19, 2023
We're 20 minutes into the game and Judge has already robbed Ohtani of a homer and gone deep my god man pic.twitter.com/cM4RmCZomv
— gabe (@PlayoffTanaka_) April 19, 2023
He made the catch! He robbed Ohtani of a home run!
You know, all this fuss and feathers about Judge, can he play center. He can play center with anyone! pic.twitter.com/AfSrNlXICw
— John Sterling Calls (@JSterlingCalls) April 19, 2023
It is unfathomably insane just how many things Aaron Judge does at an elite level on a baseball field.
The homers are awesome, but don't take the rest for granted.pic.twitter.com/w6uUzPnwFf
— Max Mannis (@MaxMannis) April 19, 2023
Round 1 went to Shohei Ohtani. Round 2 looks like the Aaron Judge Show.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) April 19, 2023