Yankees captain Aaron Judge hits Rodeo Drive with his wife before joking about ‘Arson Judge’
Yankees star slugger Aaron Judge hit the shops on Los Angeles’ infamous Rodeo Drive ahead of New York’s opening game against the Dodgers.
Judge, 31, was spotted browsing the luxury boutiques and designer stores on the luxury strip in Beverly Hills with his wife Samantha Bracksieck, 29, before getting dressed for the Yankees at Dodger Stadium on Friday night.
The couple, who married in December 2021, were seen holding hands as the right fielder carried Prada shopping bags.
The high-school sweethearts coordinated in matching black outfits and white sneakers. Both looked relaxed with Samantha in flared French terry and tank top, while her husband donned a form-fitting t-shirt and slim-fitting joggers.
Judge completed his look with sunglasses and a cap from Siegelman Stable, a family brand that combines racing and luxury fashions, while his petite, brunette wife wore Prada tortoise shell sunglasses.
Aaron Judge went to the shops on Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles with his wife Samantha Bracksieck
The slugger went shopping before gearing up for the Yankees against the Dodgers
The high-school sweethearts coordinated in matching black outfits and white sneakers
The pair met in Linden, California, Judge’s hometown, and dated through high school and college before breaking up and eventually reuniting in 2019.
They tied the knot in an incredibly intimate ceremony in Hawaii in December 2021, with just a small group of close personal friends and family.
It’s unclear what the purpose of their shopping spree was, but even a few items from the luxury Italian designer aren’t likely to bring Judge back after the 6-foot-7 slugger signed his massive $360 million nine-year contract to work in the Bronx during the offseason. .
Judge, who entered the off-season as the hottest free agent in the market following his record-breaking 62 home runs in the 2022 regular season, finally confirmed he would remain in pinstripes through the 2031 season.
At a December press conference to confirm the news, the Yankees announced that Judge would be the franchise’s 16th captain, in front of Samantha and his parents Patty and Wayne Judge.
However, before the fairytale end was sealed in the Bronx, Judge’s MLB future had a turbulent off-season, particularly with interest from the San Francisco Giants.
The slugger almost seemed to be returning home to California as the Giants launched a massive effort, featuring Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry, to lure Judge to San Francisco.
Still, Yankees fans were really sent into a spiral when the New York Post’s Jon Heyman tweeted that Judge was headed for the Giantsāwell, one Judge, anyway.
The Yankees captain later warmed up at Dodger Stadium for the opening game of the series
The 6-foot-7 slugger signed a nine-year, $360 million contract to stay in the Bronx
Judge entered the offseason as the most in-demand free agent after his 62 home runs
Samantha, joined her All-Star husband onstage at his contract announcement
The 31-year-old posed with wife Samantha and parents Patty (right) and Wayne Judge (left)
Heyman’s tweet hilariously contained a typo announcing that “Arson Judge” was heading to San Francisco.
Judge joins Mookie Betts on the latest episode of his “On Base” podcast discussing the viral tweet and bogus rumor.
āI think my name has changed a bitā¦ yes, Arson Judge. I haven’t seen his stats with the Giants yet,ā Judge joked.
The incorrect report also caused panic among the Yankees organization and Judge’s friends and family, while it was later revealed that the San Diego Padres had entered the fray.
Because Heyman mistyped “Aaron Judge” as “Arson Judge” in his original tweet, the latter was trending on Twitter Wednesday morning
“I was on a flight, my agent texted me ‘Things are going to happen in San Diego now.’ I’m like ‘What are you talking about?’ I think this happened at the Winter Meetings,ā Judge recalled.
āBut it was funny, that kind of exploded a little bit, I started getting a few texts from family and friends. People with the Yankees, kind of “what’s going on?”
Judge had waited his entire career to experience free agency and just two days before re-signing with the Yankees, his decision had seemingly been made for him.
“Yeah, the one time I got to choose, I didn’t get to choose,” Judge joked.