A's JP Sears Details Generous Gesture From Aaron Judge When He Made Yankees in 2022

Athletics left-hander JP Sears recalled a generous gesture from New York Yankees star Aaron Judge during his MLB debut with the team in 2022.

"Two days after I found out I made a team in '22, we were flying from Tampa to New York to get ready for Opening Day and (Judge) texted me that night," Sears recalled, per NJ.com's Randy Miller. "He was like, 'Hey, if you're not busy, I got a reservation for you and your family at Don Angie's if you want to go.'"

The 26-year-old pitcher had been playing for the Yankees' minor league affiliates for a few years before getting the call-up for the team’s April 13 game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium.

It was then that he received a text from the then 30-year-old Judge, who had already spent six years with the Yankees, earned three All-Star selections, two Silver Sluggers and was on his way to winning the 2022 MVP.

In response, the excited pitcher replied, "Wow, that's great," per Miller, knowing that the renowned Don Angie is a very popular—and hard-to-get-into—spot in the upscale Manhattan West Village.

"He just set up everything for me. I didn't have to really plan anything and just showed up," Sears continued, per Miller. "He ended up showing up at the end of the meal and paid for it all and introduced himself to my family."

The gesture stuck with Sears, who was joined at dinner by his parents as they had flown in from South Carolina to watch their son's opening day at Yankee Stadium.

Sears' tenure in New York was short, as he appeared in seven games for the Yankees before being traded to the Oakland A’s in July 2022 as part of a package for right-handed pitcher Frankie Montas.

For the A’s, Sears has found great success, starting 32 games last season and seven this season, posting a 4-2 record with a 2.77 ERA.