Aaron Judge offers 5-word response after controversial home run call

New York Yankees star Aaron Judge is steadfast in his belief that he was robbed of a home run Sunday afternoon.

Playing against the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field — the Yankees' spring training complex — the reigning American League MVP launched a moonshot toward the left field foul pole. Though it appeared Judge had homered yet again, third-base umpire Scott Barry ultimately ruled it a foul ball.

Even after a crew chief review, the replay center in New York didn't overturn the call, despite one replay angle showing Judge's blast appeared to be a fair ball. However, the combination of the ball's incredible height with the fact that they're playing in a minor-league stadium kept MLB from having sufficient evidence to overturn the call.

Regardless, Judge made his feelings pretty clear about the towering blast after New York secured a 4-0 win against their division-mates.

"It was a fair ball,” Judge said after Sunday's game..

"That’s why we got replay. It’s not on the umpire — it’s tough on a situation like this where, at a minor league park, the foul poles aren’t as high. That’s why you have replay, they have every angle. That’s a fair ball.”

One pitch later, Judge was called out on strikes on a 3-2 slider from Rays reliever Eric Orze, leading to the Yankees captain exchanging some brief words with home plate umpire Adam Beck.

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When manager Aaron Boone saw the exchange, he immediately came to Judge's defense, ultimately resulting in his first ejection of the season.

Without the home run, Judge went 1-for-4, extending his on-base streak to 18 games. The $360 million superstar enters Monday leading MLB in batting average (.390), OPS (1.202) and fWAR (2.0).

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