A heartfelt moment ensued last night as a 9-year-old Yankees fan attending Monday night’s game in Toronto got the chance to meet his favorite player, Aaron Judge.
In Monday night’s game against the Blue Jays, Judge hit a massive home run in the sixth inning which landed in the 200 level of Rogers Centre. It landed mere feet away from 9-year-old Derek Rodriguez, but was caught by a nearby Blue Jays fan, Mike Lanzillotta, instead. Then, in a clip which has since gone viral, Lanzillotta immediately gives the ball to little Derek, who tears up and hugs Lanzillotta out of joy.
“I was so happy,” Rodriguez said. “All I can remember is I said thank you and I hugged [Lanzillotta]. I brought [the ball] to school; my friends and teacher congratulated me. They all wanted to hear what happened. It was just amazing.”
Aaron Judge hits a home run.
Blue Jays fan catches it.
The fans turns to a young fan wearing an Aaron Judge jersey and gives him the home run ball.
Some things man. @Starting9 https://t.co/KuxuBCsSTx
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) May 4, 2022
https://twitter.com/Yankees/status/1521977815419297796
Last night, both Rodriguez and Lanzillotta were given the opportunity to meet Mr. Judge, and cashed in. They were both invited into the Yankees’ dugout in Rogers Centre, as well as batting practice shortly before the game, where they were able to meet the star outfielder and snap some pictures.
“For a Blue Jays’ fan to have that moment with a young Yankee fan, that’s a moment seen around the world,’’ Judge said. “It speaks volumes to the Blue Jays fans they have here…It still gives me goosebumps seeing little kids wearing my number, my jersey. That was something I dreamed of. I used to be in his position, with my favorite players and teams. It was a pretty cool moment.
The Blue Jays did end up snagging the victory in yesterday’s series finale, by a score of 2-1, snapping the Yankees’ 11-game winning streak. The Yankees did take the series, however, so little Derek, who was named after Yankees’ legend Derek Jeter, has something to cheer about.
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