Aaron Judge Takes the High Road After Controversial Ejection; Defends Umpire Ryan Blakney From Criticism: “It’s Tough”

Baseball’s buzzing about Aaron Judge’s ejection, and honestly, we’re all a little surprised. Not just at the toss during that tense Detroit Tigers game, but at Judge’s incredibly chill reaction afterward. When asked about whether umpires are getting quicker on the trigger, he shrugged it off, saying, “I’ve never been ejected, so yeah… I got nothing on it.” Classic All-Rise: focused on the game, not the drama.

This whole situation shines a light on the human side of baseball. Umpires are under immense pressure, and even the best make mistakes (just like Judge admits he does at the plate). The real shocker? This was Judge’s first ejection ever.

Not in the 870 MLB games, not in college, not even in high school! The guy embodies sportsmanship, even when he’s frustrated. But here’s the thing: walking away from a bad call should be enough. Aaron Judge put it plainly: “Get back to the dugout and get the game moving along.” Getting tossed at that point felt a little over the top. Of course, Judge being Judge, his ejection makes history.

It turns out he’s the first Bombers’ captain to get the boot since Don Mattingly almost thirty years ago—also for a disputed strike call. But Judge holds a ton of respect for those making the tough calls. “I got a lot of respect for Ryan [Blakney] and what he does,” he muses. “I know their job’s tough. I’ve always had their back, ’cause it’s tough back there.” This is from the guy who just got tossed for, frankly, not making much of a scene at all after the controversial call.

“I try not to worry about that,” Aaron Judge told YES Network post-game. After walking away from the disputed 3-2 strike call, Judge was surprised at the ejection. “I’ve said a lot worse,” he admitted, emphasizing his usual restraint.

This surprisingly mature stance from a player fresh off his first ejection is refreshing in the often ego-driven world of sports. “Everybody makes mistakes,” Judge said, extending understanding even after his frustrating moment in the spotlight. Of course, the All-Rise was understandably disappointed in the heat of the moment. “I think that was the biggest thing… I think it’s a ball, I disagree with the call, say what you want.”

It’s this walking-away moment that seemed to spark the ejection, and Judge admits surprise: “I didn’t even see myself get tossed. I think it was the crowd reaction, is what I heard.” His diplomatic take on this ejection stands in interesting contrast to the recent fallout from manager Aaron Boone’s ejection during a tense New York Yankees-Oakland Athletics game. 

To Err is Human: Aaron Judge, Aaron Boone, and challenges of umpiring in MLB

Boone’s toss resulted from umpire Hunter Wendelstedt seemingly overreacting to a heckling fan, a move that has brought league scrutiny. The MLB’s review of the incident indicates that Wendelstedt’s quick ejection may factor into his overall umpire evaluation.

Such evaluations are crucial, influencing decisions on postseason and All-Star assignments (and the extra pay that goes with them). While one bad call might not doom Wendelstedt’s prospects, it certainly creates extra pressure.

The skipper, on the other hand, seems to have escaped a fine after discussions with MLB officials. The league reportedly feels the situation could have been handled differently—and without the ejection.

These recent umpire-related incidents highlight the heightened intensity and scrutiny present in the current MLB landscape. Aaron Judge’s surprising defense of umpire Ryan Blakney, even in the face of his ejection, offers a welcome dose of sportsmanship and reminds us that even the most competitive players can recognize the inherent challenges of a job relying on split-second judgment calls.