Derek Rodriguez, fan who got home run ball, meets Aaron Judge 

"I was that little kid." Aaron Judge. That makes this that more special. He is growing the game, one fan at a time. I also really appreciated how he spoke highly of the Toronto fan that caught the ball and their fans overall. Classy move, maybe also a message to any Yankee fans in the outfield at our next home series.

That little kid was so poised for his age, the way he answered the questions from reporters; way more mature than some adults I'm sure.

Judge is pure class, just can't dislike the guy in any way (even as a Jays fan) just such a great moment all around so heartfelt

Canadian and Blue Jays fan here. Never have I been so happy about a Yankee home run against the Jays. This is what baseball, being a good person and life is all about. Be kind to one another, inspire our kids and give back. I caught a Jays ball when I was 8 and immediately gave it to my friend. Although I really wanted the ball, my friend wanted it more…he still talks about it 40 years later and it makes me smile. If you’re a Yankees fan and you catch a home run by an opponent, please consider giving it to a kid instead of throwing it back on the field. You can make a lifetime memory for someone. Go Jays and Go Yankees!

such an emotional little man, its so touching to see how he is overwhelmed with joy and happiness...kudos to aaron judge, such a classy respectful guy

Kid’s a pro at interviews

Dodger fan here. Just found out about this moment today. Super classy from Mike the Blue Jays fan and the praise Aaron Judge gave. Pure class all around. Derek may end up becoming the next Yankees superstar.

A Yankee fan since I was 10 (I’m 70 now), I had to hold back my tears watching this - a baseball blessing. Bravo guys !

I see kids in jerseys, fans in the stands,a baseball given by a man and I think to myself what a wonderful world.

What a well spoken young man, this story is awesome

Well done to the Jays fan who gave this kid the ball. Pure class act

Very articulate young man.

Sox fan here. The game of baseball thrives on moments and players like these. Mad respect for Mr. Judge

Judge is a class act! Great gesture by the Bluejays fan, he's a class act. The kid is a class act too showing his gratitude that way! Finally a little happiness in the world!

That Blue Jay's fan showed the country how we should all act towards each other. With kindness. Mickey Mantle was god when I was a kid and I have a sense of how excited that young boy was. Priceless and a lesson to us all. Go Yankees!

This kid must have awesome parents. Seems like he’s got a great head on his shoulders, so glad he had that moment. Also, catching a home run ball from your fav player is so much better than having them just toss you a random ball, such a perfect, beautiful moment

Classy moves all around and great for the game. Well done Yanks and Jays.

The Yankees and Blue Jays just gained a new fan! I absolutely love this act of kindness and pure, raw emotion that was effortless. Thank you, Mike Lanzillotta, for restoring (in my mind) what sportsmanship, kindness, and humbleness means. You are truly a gentleman!

such a class act from that Toronto fan Yankee fans are proud of you brother stay blessed

That’s a memory of a lifetime for that kid. Judge is a class act for meeting his biggest fan Hats 🎩 off judge

What a name this kid has especially that he's a Yankee fan "Derek Rodriguez" sounds familiar ehh..the names of 2 former legends Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez combined that's awesome

Awesome the world needs more of this acts of kindness

One of the classiest and special moments in sports history! 🙏🏽

This is why Judge is my favorite player

I have been watching this story for three days and still tear-up! The way the Toronto fan "reached across the aisle" to show kindness and respect should be a lesson to our politicians in D.C. Choose kindness!

I only get to watch Baseball on RU-vid in the UK, but I love the game as a spectacle. The fans, the players, the stats. What stands out the most is how the game brings people together. Judge knew what the kid felt, because he still loves the game, just like that kid.

Yankee die hard fan. Born and raised in Toronto. Love the Jays also. This guy gets it. He's everything a ball player should be. Pay the man!

I don’t care what team you root for ya gotta love Aaron Judge. He’s the epitome of a pro that understands what it means in all facets. He’s good for baseball. So happy for the kid getting a home run ball from his favorite player! Props to the Blue Jays fan of course, class act. (Met fan)

This kid is so eloquent. So grateful for his new found friendships. Judge is my new favorite player!

The kid, the adult Jays fan, and Judge! 3 fine examples of humankind coming together!

I still choke up watching this kid , special moment I will never forget , I have a son that's 12 and he was in tears watching that , special kid awesome moment 👌

Love seeing things like this!

As a 32 yr old man this kick me right in the feels spot!! Awesome moment

What a wholesome situation. Good for everyone involved.

Aaron judge is an extremely kind person. I've been a huge yankees fan my whole life I'm 35 years old now a few weeks ago I brought my son to his 1st yankees game and we got there early and and we're down by the the 1st baseline While the players were warming up and Aaron judge was the only one that came over and signed autographs for people. He was about 7' away from us and my 6 year old son yelled Aaron it's my 1st yankees game can you please sign my it baseball glove And as soon as he was done signing the autograph he was doing he came right over to us Signed his glove and talked to him for about a minute. For someone to take time out of their day to come and meet their fans and sign out a grasp for them is Awesome my son still talks about it every day

Very sweet of Judge to compliment the Jays fan!! He's right.... we Canadians are awesome!!!!

Yankee fan named Derek Rodriguez... awesome

so well spoken for a 6yo, the hug after shows such good manners as well, great for everyone involved!

Greatness, you got to love Judge. Awesome most chill dude. -PLEASE RESIGHN HIM

That’s was awesome! Kid will never forget this moment. Reminds me of my son. Aaron your gold man!

Moments like this are what helps me lay down sports hate. A truly special moment for the young man and for #99.

As a Braves fan I NEVER root for the Yankees or an individual Yankee player but this was so heartbreaking that I honestly can't help but like Judge. The tears that young man was crying in the dugout were tears of unimaginable joy.

Magical

That's a cool kid right there. Seems like a natural on screen being interviewed he is better than some sports players at interviews. Great for him it made CNN this morning as well. Gone Viral!! :)

Parents must be very proud of this young boy. Very smart and speaks from the heart. If only the whole world could reflect on this appreciate the good things and people out there that exists…

Sox fan here, I know, boo.....Judge is a class act....And the fan who gave the kid the ball is a really good guy!! Just a "feel good" story. We need more of these!

Was waiting for this to happen 😭🥹

what a poised and articulate young man... the way he answers questions is amazing, especially when he gets asked basically the same question in a three minute span

This Is What Baseball is All about. True Players that show Sportsmanship and Love for The Game. Well Done Aaron and Congratulations Derek.

This young man is impressive! So confident and well spoken. 😀

Literally just had a smile watching the whole video, grew up playing baseball and I know how the little feels meeting his favorite baseball player

Amazing!!!!!!! Yankees fan from birth!!!

Fantástico para el niño bendiciones para Aaron el jues saludos desde panamá mostró Yankees

This is a great heartwarming story...the Toronto blue Jay fan who caught the ball and gave it to the kid is a great human being...the kid crying made me a 59 year old man cry also..judge is a class act..

The emotion on that young boy's face is Priceless! I remember seeing the video of "The Event" and thinking to myself that the young fan and the older fan who got the Homerun ball were BOTH raised properly! The Older guy immediately thought of another and the young boy immediately said Thank you! Even in Sports Manners and Courtesy NEVER go out of style! Cheers Everyone!

Kid is well spoken and mannered. Awesome

Wow, just watched this happen...props to the Toronto fan! Good folks everywhere, even at Yankees games. (Braves fan here, we actually know NYC fans are the greatest, we just don't like to admit it.)

Your a hero to many Aaron god bless

Man that Aaron Judge is a class act, this is why I love baseball !!!!

This is one of the best sports moments in history. Love love love this so much!

Very classy by the Jays fan and Judge. This young man will remember for the rest of his life. Having grown up a Yankee fan in the '50's and '60's this brought back memories of what baseball was like back then. Kids worshipping their idols. A great momeny MLB should be proud of!

I love seeing young kids still so passionate about the game I love so much!

Such a gracious kid. Just an awesome story all around.

This is so F'ing awesome! I was hoping Judge would do this after watching the clip! Not only does the kid get to meet his idol, but the Bluejay fan got a hookup too! I LOVE BASEBALL! LET'S GO YANKEES!!

One of the many reasons why I am a die hard Yankees fan!! Pure class.

With a name like that, the kid is a future Yankee

OMG. This boy was having a whole press conference.👏 Such a very well spoken young gentleman. 👏 Congratulations to him and his parents👏

Classy move for the fans, Aaron Judge and the Blue Jays/Yankees organization to make it happens. This is the best of baseball, where the fans really can interact with the players by getting their hands in balls in play. Imagine this in NFL or NBA. It is hard to imagine someone catches the basketball into the stand and gives it to someone else.

What an amazing Appreciative young man. Everyone there is Special. Glad the school and world are making it a big deal. Beyond borders

What a class act. Didn't know anything about this guy before this showed up on my feed and now I'm a fan too.

Someone raised this kid the right way. Kudos to his parents for teaching this kid manners. If only more parents in the world today would do the same. Let's Go Yankees! Props to the man who gave this kid the ball. He didn't have to do that but that kind gesture will go a long way for him and the kid.

3:09 best baseball smile ever from the Jays fan 🙏

Now that is one beautiful, articulate young man. No doubt he will be a great success in life!

What a great kid

Kid has a goated name. Derek Rodriguez. Might be the best shortstop ever in a few years.

Such a great story I love it!

Speaks volumes for the Blue Jays fans, but speaks volumes about you Sir Always liked watching Judge play, and a little more after this Go Jays

What a lot of people don’t know is that judge was adopted and he was lucky to have some amazing people adopt and mold him to the man he is. He might be the classiest Yankee of my lifetime along with Bernie Williams

Wow! Judge is an awesome dude for sure. And how mature is that kid? He answered those questions like a seasoned pro.

First Class ..As An Angels Fan ..So much Respect...Arron you're on special Man...The young Boy will always remember that Moment.for a lifetime... Cheers Big Guy...Well Done..👍🙏

What a great guy.

Yankees, don't mess this up. Sign him forever. He is class. He is talent. He is the future of the Yankees.

Well spoken young man especially because of all the media around. Respect to everyone involved.

Thats baseball in canada just one act of kindness and a memory for a little kid that would last a lifetlme

How can you not get emotional about what a triangle blue Jay painted for a Yankee fan that is true truly amazing.

At the end of the day there really are some good people out there. Thank you for the inspiration!

This kid's so nervous for this interview. Bless his heart!

Cool kid truly appreciative n fortunate I loved everything about this & hats off to Aaron Judge who always exudes genuine class!!! A true baseball hero n representative for America's pastime!!!! Go Yanks!

Awesome young man! Thank you for posting! Love to see moments like this.

Again what a beautiful moment and i got to feel it. This has to be the best video in the world, thanks for sharing

I am a diehard Chicago Cubs fan and I've never been to Chicago. I found them in 1984 (when I was 4) and just loved that I could watch all of their games on WGN. In 1987 I went to a Cubs vs Dodgers game at Dodger stadium, and my father took me down to see if I could get an autograph from Bobby Dernier and when i stepped up to him I asked him to sign my little plastic glove my grandmother had got for me at the local discount store, and he asked if I had a ball, since if you have a glove you need to have a ball, and I said no I don't. Well he went out and got me a ball and autographed it and I was on cloud 9. A little bit later we say Billy Williams and he came up to sign some autographs and while everyone else rushed around him my dad and I stayed back as to not get crushed, and he pointed to me and said I'm not going to sign anything until I sign for that little boy, I stepped up and gave him that ball and between him and Bobby and one other Cubs player signing that ball, that is what made me a Cubs fan for life. That boy will hold a very special place in his heart for Aaron Judge and he will have this story to tell his kids some day. Baseball is awesome, and yeah i'm 41 now and still haven't been to Wrigley but the Cubs are still my team and will always be my team no matter how bad or good they are.

If this kid lives up to his name the Yankees are going to have a hell of a short stop in 15 years.

This is what opposing fan should be not harming or taunting each other.

The man who gave that kid that home run ball changed that kids life in a great way forever

Love this. Thank ypu Jays fan. You made a kid a memory that is so special. let's go Yankees!

This kid is so mature. He is a natural!!!

Very cool story, everyone involved was absolutely first class. The young Yankees fan was very articulate, and mannerly. One of the best parts of watching sports is when the camera shows kids being kids, they're hilarious.

God I love baseball. I love it so much.

Gentle giant with humility and manners. Makes ya wanna smile and then smack Kaeperneck, doesn’t it?

This is what baseball is all about. A great game creating timeless memories for the old and young.