Another day, another underdog story in MLB. This time, it is the Guardians getting the better of the Yankees by 3-2. The Yankees facing upset losses is no longer news this season. However, the game against the Guardians brought back the memory of the infamous game 5 blunder by Aaron Judge in the 2024 World Series.
And while the discussion is related to Aaron Judge’s mistiming in the outfield, how could the Yankees fans let go of Juan Soto!
It all started when Judge failed to glove a fly ball by the Guardians’ slugger, Kyle Manzardo. It was a fastball by Mark Leiter Jr. that Manzardo connected on a low liner out to right field. Judge, known for his athleticism, took two aggressive steps in and dived to catch the ball. But the liner dipped faster than expected, just out of reach, skipping past Judge and rolling toward the wall.
Manzardo, hustling out of the box, easily made it to second, possibly even stretching for third depending on the bounce.
AARON MF JUDGE. pic.twitter.com/a5Pds8bDvn
— KutterIsKing (@KutterIsKing) April 23, 2025
Well, it was a classic example of the gamble outfielders face. If Aaron Judge had stayed back, he might’ve held Manzardo to a single. But the dive? That was an all-or-nothing move—and this time, it came up empty. However, when it is Aaron Judge missing a ball in the outfield, the fans will be quick to point out his last year’s World Series struggle. But compared to Soto?
While Soto is an elite hitter, arguably the best pure bat in baseball right now, his defensive performance, especially in the outfield, has long been considered his biggest weakness. Soto often struggles with getting good initial jumps on fly balls. His reaction time and routes to the ball are inconsistent, which can lead to awkward plays or missed opportunities.
So, it came as no surprise that the Yankees fans started comparing Judge to Soto. Plus not it seems that the Yanks faithful won’t let go of a single opportunity to troll Soto, even in the everyday performance of the Yankees. But talking about Judge, are all the fans on the same page, ridiculing him?
Judge’s outfield moves are making all the talk
Comparing Aaron Judge’s misfield against the Guardians with what Soto has done last year in the Yankees sounds outrageous. But hey, when was the last time that MLB’s social media discussion failed to amaze us?
“Looking like Soto.” Judge diving and missing the flyball of Manzardo looks like Juan Soto? While a fan thinks so, Soto has his history of misjudging a flyball. Remember the 2024 game between the Yankees and Cardinals? The Cardinals’ Brendan Donovan hit a high fly ball that Soto misjudged, allowing it to drop near the wall for a double. So yes, a good opportunity for the Yankees fans to keep their discussion around Soto on!
One fan asks, “Is that Juan Soto out there?” Well, both Soto and Judge struggle when it comes to defense. However, in 2024, Aaron Judge was at par with Soto in terms of Defensive Runs Saved, highlighting their struggle in defensive capabilities in the outfield. And in 2023, Soto recorded -2 DRS while Judge scored -4. What this kinda indicates for fans is that Judge is going the same as Soto in terms of fielding, and the comparison probably makes sense.
Reminds me of the historic game 5 catch
— Go Sox Go (@GoSox34) April 23, 2025
Ahh, discussing Aaron Judge missing a flyball, and not pointing towards his 2024 postseason game 5 is a crime. For starters, in Game 5 of the 2024 World Series, Judge committed a pivotal error that significantly contributed to the Yankees’ collapse against the Dodgers. With the Yankees leading 5-0 in the fifth inning, Judge misjudged a routine line drive off the bat of Tommy Edman. The ball glanced off his glove, allowing Edman to reach base. It ignited a series of defensive miscues that led to five unearned runs for the Dodgers. Flashback for fans with the miss against the Guardians!
Yep 4 for 4 with a 2B and a SB… Aaron MF Judge! He’s so good! https://t.co/t1N0ZYG99n
— KevSwing (@Kswing6) April 23, 2025
The game against the Guardians was not all about Judge’s misfield, there was his prowess in catching some good hits, too. One fan shared the clip about how Judge took a stunning catch in the fifth inning. Well, that’s vintage Aaron Judge right there—showing that while the bat gets the headlines, the glove can flash too. In that fifth-inning moment, Judge covered 51 feet in right field. This was to make a lunge at Brayan Rocchio’s, what looked like, a sure extra-base hit.
Is this supposed to be a chirp? That’s a fairly hard catch to make, he ran towards it and dove to make the effort.
— Dr. ronald michaels junior (@evmerchant) April 23, 2025
Well, the Kyle Manzardo one was a fairly hard catch to make. Since last year’s debacle in the World Series, ballparks get crowd buzz, expecting Judge to drop in or even reach the wall. However, the catch in the fifth inning is nothing but stunning! Moreover, evaluating Aaron Judge based on these two misses would be an overreaction, right? Because the 2024 World Series misplay marked Judge’s first error in 1,958 career innings as a center fielder, underscoring its rarity and impact.
Yeah, Aaron Judge’s consistent defensive metrics and multiple Gold Glove nominations underscore his reliability in the outfield. A few mishaps shouldn’t define him, no! But definitely, it was another chance for the Bleacher Creatures to bring Soto into the clubhouse again!
The post Juan Soto Stays Catching Strays by MLB Fans as Aaron Judge Blunder in Yankees Loss Sparks Comparison appeared first on EssentiallySports.
