Watch: Bug doesn't stop Aaron Judge from drawing walk

Aaron Judge. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Bug doesn't stop Yankees' Aaron Judge from drawing walk

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 5/10/23

Not even a creepy crawly critter was going to stop New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge from reaching first base during his return from the injured list.

As SNY's Andy Martino explained, the YES television network crew noticed a bug on Judge during his at-bat in the bottom of the sixth inning of what became Tuesday's 10-5 home victory over the Oakland Athletics.

The reigning American League Most Valuable Player seemed unbothered throughout the plate appearance even as what seemed to be a moth crawled on his neck and possibly down his shirt.

Despite the potential distraction, Judge earned a walk and a trip to first:

Bug on board….took a walk with Judge… #Yankees #YankeesTwitter #RepBX #NYYvsOAK #YankeesvsAthletics #AaronJudge @TheJudge44 pic.twitter.com/Pw1iUdvepN
— YankeesDugout99 ⚾ (@YDugout99) May 10, 2023

Ahead of the Wednesday afternoon contest between the Yankees and Athletics in the Bronx, Judge told Martino he never felt anything throughout the at-bat.

"I saw it when I was checking the replay of my swing," Judge said of the bug. "I didn’t see it fall down [the shirt] but I saw it on my shoulder."

Judge noted that he had "bigger things to worry about than a moth" at the time.

The 31-year-old was coming off a 10-day stint on the IL and had previously made it known he believed he needed only "a couple days" off to work through his right hip strain. New York went 4-6 without Judge in the lineup and began Wednesday's MLB action in last place in the AL East standings and nine games back of the first-place Tampa Bay Rays.

"You’ve got to stay locked in on the at-bat," Judge continued during his conversation with Martino. "I’m facing a guy throwing 95 miles an hour and I’m trying to drive someone in. I could have a million moths fall on me and I don’t think it would bother me."

Not for nothing, but even somebody with a massive case of entomophobia would probably power through "a million moths" falling on him if he was earning $360M via a nine-year contract to do so.

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