Joe Trevino had a surprise for his former teammate Aaron Judge Monday night. The former New York Yankees catcher stepped to the plate Monday night in Cincinnati, “Swag Surfin’” echoed through Great American Ballpark. That’s the same anthem Judge uses at Yankee Stadium.
Judge, out in right field, laughed and tipped his cap.
“He was kind of messing with me a little bit,” Judge said, smiling. “I loved it.”
Trevino had tipped off his old teammate during Judge’s second at-bat. “He told me he had a new walk-up song and wanted me to check it out,” Judge told reporters. “So when I heard that, I was kind of laughing a little bit.”
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Cincinnati Reds on June 23, 2025, at the Great American Ball Park.
© Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
But the reunion wasn’t all jokes.
Behind the scenes, Yankees manager Aaron Boone met Trevino quietly on the field before the game and gave him his 2022 AL championship ring in private, according to Bryan Hoch. Just the two of them.
When Austin Wells stepped into the box, he said he told his former mentor that he loved him. Trevino’s response?
“He told me he loved me, too,” Wells told reporters.
Trevino, dealt to the Reds last winter for reliever Fernando Cruz, has found success in Cincinnati—something Judge wasn’t surprised to see.
“Trevi was one of my favorite teammates over here,” Judge said. “One of the best. Such a hard worker, always with the team. You see the success he’s having over there—it’s not by chance.”
The Yankees moved on with Wells as their everyday catcher and J.C. Escarra backing him up on a cheaper deal. But Monday night made one thing clear: Trevino’s impact in the Bronx hasn’t faded.
