TAMPA, Fla. — A controversial call at Steinbrenner Field might stand out as a significant moment in the 2025 MLB season, particularly if Aaron Judge, the dynamic Yankees slugger, finishes just shy of surpassing his own American League home run record. During Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays, what appeared to be Judge’s eighth home run of the season was declared foul by third base umpire Scott Barry despite fan expectation of a different outcome.
The incident occurred in the eighth inning when Judge launched a towering hit down the left field line that initially seemed destined to clear the boundary. The crowd watched as the ball soared high and curved near the foul pole. The on-field decision prompted a review by the officials in the replay center located in New York. Ultimately, they upheld the ruling of a foul ball, denying Judge a homer.
Yankees Manager Aaron Boone expressed his disbelief over the upheld foul call. After the play, Boone engaged in heated exchanges with home plate umpire Adam Beck and Barry, which led to his ejection — his first of the season. Boone continued his protest off the field, revisiting the contentious play in the video room with Brett Weber, a coach assisting with the Yankees’ replay analyses.
Following the game, which the Yankees won 4-0, Boone told reporters, “I went and looked at it after the game, and it’s pretty clear it’s a home run.” The lack of conclusive evidence to overturn the original call on the field was a point of contention for Boone.
Judge himself weighed in, suggesting that despite the formidable height of the foul pole at the minor league venue, the technology available should have been able to confirm the ball’s trajectory as fair. “That’s why we have replay, they have every angle. That’s a fair ball,” Judge said, reflecting a mix of humor and disappointment about the situation.
Additional comments on the situation came from Cody Bellinger, who was on deck during the play. Bellinger said he did not have a perfect view, but noted that it might have been one of the farthest hits he’d ever seen.
Despite the setback, Judge remained a key performer for the Yankees, going 1-for-4 that day and extending his on-base streak to 18 games, boasting a season batting average of .390 and an OPS of 1.202. The controversial call occurred in a sequence that also saw Judge struck out on a 3-2 pitch, which Boone disputed but acknowledged could have been correct.
The combination of questionable calls by the umpires ignited Boone’s frustration early in the game, carrying over from dissatisfaction with earlier calls against another player, Jasson Domínguez, in the second inning.
Such controversies underscore the challenges and imperfections in the use of replay technology in baseball, particularly in crucial game-altering moments. As the season progresses, this incident may be looked back upon as a pivotal point, especially if Judge’s home run tally closely contests his previous record.
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