New York Yankees Captain Aaron Judge Receives First Career Ejection

The Yankees' spiritual leader was tossed in the seventh inning by home plate umpire Ryan Blakney.

May 4, 2024; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees center fielder Aaron Judge (99) and manager / Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Yankees defeated the Detroit Tigers 5-3 on Saturday afternoon, but had to play the last two innings without their captain.

For the first time in his career, Aaron Judge was thrown out of a game for arguing balls and strikes. It was the first time since Don Mattingly's ejection on May 13, 1994 that a Yankee captain was ejected from a game (Derek Jeter, who served as captain from 2003 to 2014, went his entire career without an ejection).

Aaron Judge just got ejected for the 1st time in his career pic.twitter.com/0QWnsabslB

— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) May 4, 2024

Ironically, for all the terrible low strike calls Judge had gotten in his career, the 3-2 pitch he got rung up on was a borderline call on the outside corner. The 32-year-old superstar briefly protested the call from home plate umpire Ryan Blakney, but relented and started walking back to the dugout. However, Blakney threw out Judge with his back turned, prompting Judge and manager Aaron Boone to come out of the dugout and argue to no avail. "You're not going to tell me that's bull****," Blakney replied.

"I was very surprised, especially coming late in the game," Judge said after the game regarding the ejection. "I've said a lot worse, and I usually try not to make a scene in situations like that. I've got a lot of respect for Ryan and what he does; I know their job's tough, and I've always had their backs because it's tough back there. For it to happen that way is what I'm most upset about."

Aaron Judge tells @M_Marakovits his thoughts surrounding his ejection in the 7th. pic.twitter.com/x3PfQS9Kuc

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) May 4, 2024

"C'mon man... I didn't think it was warranted. Let's leave it at that," Boone said during his postgame presser.

Aaron Boone comments on Aaron Judge's ejection in the 7th and shares thoughts on Luke Weaver. pic.twitter.com/LAL1QyDx97

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) May 4, 2024

"I thought [the ump] was being a little sensitive there," first baseman Anthony Rizzo said in an on-field interview with reporter Meredith Marakovits. "I'm sure he's going to say [the ump] is right because they're always right, but Judgey is obviously frustrated there because he's competing."

.@M_Marakovits joins Anthony Rizzo to recap his 3-run home run in the 3rd.

WATCH #YANKSonYES LIVE https://t.co/0cgHA97Iau pic.twitter.com/sUbWZJR839

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) May 4, 2024

Trent Grisham would replace Judge in center field for the eighth and ninth innings. During those innings, Blakney's strike zone appeared to grow wider as he punched out Tiger batters Kerry Carpenter and Matt Vierling on pitches that were farther out of the strike zone than the pitch he called on Judge.

Despite missing their captain for the remainder of the game, long reliever Luke Weaver and closer Clay Holmes locked down a 5-3 win for the Bronx Bombers to secure a series victory over the Tigers. The Yankees will now go for a three-game sweep on Sunday, with Nestor Cortes Jr. throwing the first pitch at 1:35 PM Eastern.