Aaron Judge, Gleyber Torres critical of YES coverage of Tanaka injury

Two New York Yankees players think YES Network was insensitive in how they broadcast Masahiro Tanaka’s scary injury on Saturday.

Tanaka was struck in the head by a line drive during Saturday’s simulated game. The workout was being broadcast live on YES, the Yankees’ TV partner, so those watching saw the entire event unfold as it happened. The broadcast did not cut away or focus elsewhere when Tanaka was down on the mound being tended to by trainers.

This didn’t sit well with Judge, who posted a tweet criticizing the coverage.

I get that everyone has a job to do but continuing to film and zoom in on someone hurt and down in the stadium doesn’t sit well with me! Doesn’t matter who it is, teammate, coach, or fan! Praying for Tanaka!

— Aaron Judge (@TheJudge44) July 4, 2020

Infielder Gleyber Torres echoed those sentiments in his own statement.

1) I understand that people are doing their job and want to show everything we are doing, I understand that, but showing that exact moment that happened with our teammate does not seem right to us, we feel terrible to see the video in each part of social media.

— Gleyber Torres (@TorresGleyber) July 4, 2020

2) I understand that they have to write what happened but do not show that moment, Praying for Tanaka!

— Gleyber Torres (@TorresGleyber) July 4, 2020

At one point, Judge could be seen looking directly at the TV camera and seemingly gesturing in frustration at it.

Tanaka is now gingerly walking off the field with assistance from the #Yankees training staff. That was really a scary moment. pic.twitter.com/FGMGasjGfB

— Tom Hanslin (@TomHanslin) July 4, 2020

Judge and Torres are being good teammates. Their sentiment is understandable. But the events that were taking place on the field after Tanaka got hit were important, and anyone watching would have wanted to know what was going on and if Tanaka was okay. YES didn’t really have any choice.

The good news is that the early signs on Tanaka are positive, and he will continue to be evaluated.