Alex Verdugo explains why he was ready to fight Orioles

New York Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo was caught on camera seemingly threatening the Baltimore Orioles after Aaron Judge was hit by a pitch during Tuesday’s game.

YES Network cameras caught Verdugo gesturing toward someone from the Orioles after Judge and Gleyber Torres were both hit by pitches during a 4-2 victory. It was pretty easy to tell that Verdugo was saying “just me and you” to the unidentified Oriole, then adding: “After I’m done with you, I’m gonna f— that guy up.”

After that second hit-by-pitch, Alex Verdugo in the #Yankees dugout looks to be saying:

"Just me and you. And then after I'm done with you, I'm gonna f*** that guy up." pic.twitter.com/U0Ar87tjHO

— Avi Miller 🟦 (@AviMiIIer) June 19, 2024

Verdugo was asked about the interaction after the game. He said he was directing his comments to Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle, who is a close friend of his.

“Me and Mount are boys,” Verdugo said, via Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media. “I was kind of busting him up a little bit. Just messing around with him. At the end of the day, we don’t take what happened lightly. Those are our guys and (Judge) is obviously our captain. It’s a big one for us, so none of us are too pleased about it.

“At the same time, I don’t believe it was intentional. It’s just a couple pitches got away from their guys. It’s just one of those things after you hit somebody. But if you can’t go in (without hitting someone), don’t go in that day.”

That would certainly explain why Verdugo smirked after delivering his message. It sounds like he was never all that serious about taking on the Orioles.

Judge’s hit-by-pitch provided the Yankees with a pretty big scare. Fortunately, tests revealed no broken bones, and it sounds like he will be fine.