The modern, cut-throat world of sport is fuelled by competitiveness and ego—more so in the world of baseball. Very seldom do we see a Hall of Famer openly lavish praise for a current superstar of the game. This is what Yankees’ icon Aaron Judge managed to receive from one of the most prolific former players in the sport. Beyond all the adulations and accolades, this recent compliment from the ex-superstar would surely rank high for the ace hitter.
Talking about the best pitchers in MLB history, it’s a certainty that the name of Pedro Martinez will be thrown into the conversation, at one point or the other. The Dominican Republic-born righty redefined the game with his dominance on the mound in his prime. It took him just a few words in Spanish to appreciate Judge’s greatness on social media.
“Mi papá es Aaron Judge! Aaron Judge is my daddy! Happy 5 de Mayo!” Martinez recently posted on X (formerly Twitter), leaving many in splits. For those unaware, there’s a backstory to this popular phrase from the former Red Sox pitcher.
This recent declaration or admission on social media was playfully directed towards one of the incidents which took place a couple of decades back. “What can I say? Just tip my hat and call the Yankees my daddy,” these were the exact words from Martinez following a tightly contested game in 2004 American League Championship Series between Yankees and Red Sox. The statement was to denote Yankees’ dominance over him while representing the Boston Red Sox.
Mi papá es Aaron Judge!
Aaron Judge is my daddy!
Happy 5 de Mayo! #whosyourdaddy #mlbontbs
— Pedro Martinez (@45PedroMartinez) May 7, 2025
Soon after, ‘Who’s your Daddy’ became a common taunt from Yankees fans, encapsulating the intense rivalry between the two teams. Now, with the ‘daddy’ reference, the 53-year-old attempts to humorously concede to Judge’s greatness in the field of late. Thereby, reliving old memories with jest, packaged with a self-deprecating sense of humour.
Not the same Aaron Judge I saw last year: Martinez
Following up on his hilarious post, he attached another claiming that Judge isn’t the same player he saw before. It reflects on the remarkable transformation the 33-year-old batter has undergone at the plate.
“He’s not the same Aaron Judge I saw last year. He has made the adjustments to go to the opposite field, and it shows in his average. He’s even more dangerous now than he was when he had 60+ homers. He has improved and matured, and looks better!”, the 2015 Hall of Fame inductee continued.
After a dismal start to the 2024 season, Judge made significant changes to his batting stance, which raised his batting to unprecedented levels. In the middle of the season, Judge started batting in a more squared stance from an open stance, resulting in an 18-degree shift.
Recent study also found out how Judge has been the best right-handed batter ever produced in the last century, with his logic-defying stats (200+ wRC for more than three seasons). Thereby establishing himself among the top athletes currently in the world.
The comments made by Martinez is a perfect example of the cyclical nature of sports, where former adversaries often become admirers, and past rivalries are remembered with a touch of humour and respect. It will be intriguing now to see how Judge will respond to Martinez’s recent post.
The post MLB Hall of Famer Bows to Aaron Judge’s Reign in 5-Word Admission, Reveals Intriguing Insight on Evolution appeared first on EssentiallySports.