The big hit in the New York Yankees’ epic 6-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday wasn’t delivered by stars Aaron Judge or Juan Soto. Alex Verdugo’s RBI single in the seventh inning tied the game at 5-5, the final blow in a see-saw battle that featured five lead changes – a postseason record.

Verdugo had the worst season of his career in 2024. As of July 1, he was hitting .219 with a .589 OPS. During the All-Star break, a doctor told him he was allergic to his batting gloves. He was not in the starting lineup for nine of the Yankees’ final eighteen regular season games. He finished the season with career lows in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.

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What made Verdugo seize the opportunity in the Yankees’ biggest game of the season?

“He has played in big cities before,” teammate Jazz Chisholm told reporters Brendan Kuty of The Athletic. “He played in Boston. He played in LA – and I’m not talking about the Angels.’

Verdugo was drafted and developed by the Dodgers and played the first three years (2017-19) of his Major League career in Los Angeles. He never played in any playoff games with the Dodgers, but he did contribute to three National League West division title winners.

In February 2020, Verdugo was traded to the Boston Red Sox in the package that sent Mookie Betts to Los Angeles.

As Chisholm suggested that the Los Angeles Angels Since he hasn’t played many meaningful regular season or postseason games, he’s not wrong. They own the longest playoff drought in the Major Leagues, dating back to their 2014 American League Division Series appearance.

Perhaps Chisholm felt a little self-conscious this Sunday when he took to social media to apologize.

“I didn’t mean to offend you Angels fans,” Chisholm wrote on his Twitter/X account. “Sorry😓🫠 #lovedisney🤍”

Ironically, the Angels won their only World Series when owned by the Walt Disney Company in 2002. Since 2003 they have been owned by Arte Moreno. Many Angels fans have turned against Moreno during the team’s recent struggles.

More news: MLB News: Owner will increase wage bill to end longest playoff drought in MLB

Chisholm, 26, is likely unfamiliar with the entire history of the Angels franchise. He may be confused about who owns the team, but at least he gets an “A” in geography. Angel Stadium is located in Anaheim, 30 miles southeast of Los Angeles.

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