'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The New York Yankees opened their three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees, coming off winning their last two series, started the game in the presence of a special guest.
Swedish soccer legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic was invited by the Bronx Bombers to throw the ceremonial first pitch in their series opener. Before the game, Ibrahimovic met Yankees’ Aaron Judge and exchanged jerseys with him while posing for a picture.
Trending
In the picture shared by the team on X/Twitter, Aaron Judge can be seen holding a jersey with his name and number 99 on it. Meanwhile Zlatan Ibrahimovic is holding a pinstriped jersey with his name and number 11 on it.
Ibrahimovic was well aware of Aaron Judge's stellar performances at the plate. The former footballer was quite excited to meet the Yankees captain and discussed the same before their interaction:
"I've heard a lot of stories, so I'm excited to meet him. They say he's my size, if not bigger. That's good, because I'm not used to, in my world, seeing my size," Zlatan Ibrahimovic joked.
Aaron Judge also didn’t disappoint Ibrahimovic’s expectations, hitting a massive 477-foot home run in the very first inning of the game. It marked his 40th homer of the season, the most by any hitter so far this season.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic thrilled to attend his first live baseball game
Zlatan Ibrahimovic revealed before the game that it would be his first time watching a baseball game. Discussing this, he said:
“I'm pretty curious about the sport. I'm super excited. I have never watched a baseball game. This is the first time, live and not even in TV.”
Reporters also asked Ibrahimovic what position he would play if he were a baseball player. He replied that he would be known for hitting a lot of home runs.
"I think I would be the one who does the home runs. Easy. I would do a home run every game,” he replied.
The New York Yankees, struggling with their pitching woes, lost the game 8-5 against the Toronto Blue Jays. They will face each other again in the second game of their series on Saturday.
