New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge’s impressive hitting prowess has captivated fans, including NBA star Donovan Mitchell, who nearly deleted his social media account following a daring bet. During a conversation with New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor on the Café con Lindor podcast, Mitchell shared the story behind his wager involving Judge’s performance at Citi Field last June.
Mitchell, a devoted Mets supporter, bet against Judge hitting a grand slam during the Subway Series match. He publicly declared on X (formerly Twitter) that he would delete his account if Judge succeeded.
“Do you remember that game?” Lindor asked after Mitchell read his Tweet from last June.
“I was on Instagram live when that happened,” Mitchell replied.
Although Judge delivered with a grand slam, Mitchell explained why he did not follow through with deleting his account.
“Yeah, and you deleted it?” Lindor asked.
“I couldn’t. We won the game, (so) it canceled out,” Mitchell responded with a laugh.
Despite Judge’s four times on base and his crucial hit, the Mets clinched the victory with a final score of 9-7.
Mitchell’s Ambition to Follow in Francisco Lindor’s Footsteps After Basketball
Beyond his basketball career, Donovan Mitchell expressed his intention to emulate Francisco Lindor once his time in the NBA concludes. On the second episode of the Café con Lindor podcast, Mitchell conveyed his admiration for Lindor’s baseball skills and leadership.
“I will say, at some point, I will try to be (Francisco Lindor) when I’m done playing [basketball]. I’m going to try to be you (in baseball). Watch,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell’s connection to baseball extends into his NBA career, as he wears jersey No. 45 for the Cleveland Cavaliers, the same number Michael Jordan donned during his minor league baseball stint with the Chicago White Sox.
While recognized for his athleticism and standout plays on the basketball court, Mitchell acknowledged that competing at an elite baseball level might be a significant challenge, despite his passion for the sport.
The Wider Significance of the Bet and Mitchell’s Cross-Sport Interests
This playful bet between Mitchell and Lindor highlights the crossover interest between major sports and showcases how athletes admire each other’s talents across disciplines. Aaron Judge’s grand slam not only stunned a committed Mets fan like Mitchell but also added an element of friendly rivalry between NBA and MLB stars.
Mitchell’s willingness to publicly stake his social media presence on the outcome reflects the growing engagement between professional athletes and their fans through modern platforms. His plans to possibly pursue baseball after retiring from basketball indicate a unique blend of sports careers, while his choice of jersey number honors a legendary athlete who likewise explored multiple sports.