This story was excerpted from Bryan Hoch’s Yankees Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
If we use Instagram follower counts as a quick-and-dirty calculation of how popular a particular individual or group is, then the most famous people on the field for batting practice at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday afternoon were not wearing pinstripes.
Nothing against Aaron Judge (1.6 million followers) or Giancarlo Stanton (1.3 million), but those sluggers aren’t even in the same ballpark as the Jonas Brothers (6.8 million), who watched with amazement as Judge, Stanton and the rest of the Yankees parked balls into the seats before the game against the Phillies.
“We’re huge baseball fans, lifelong Yankees fans,” Joe Jonas said. “Derek Jeter was obviously No. 1. We grew up watching that All-Star team of Jorge Posada, Hideki Matsui, Bernie Williams. It was a pretty special time to fall in love with this game and with this team.”
The Jonas Brothers (Kevin, Joe and Nick) are a trio of New Jersey natives who have had big hits with recent songs like “Sucker,” which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 in 2019. They were on hand to drum up publicity for their one-night-only Aug. 12 show at Yankee Stadium.
“Performing in Yankee Stadium, I think that’s incredible,” said Kevin Jonas. “It’s going to be a party.”
Judge came over to say hello, as did fellow New Jerseyite Anthony Volpe, who yelped: “I’m from Jersey, too!” The band members also snapped a photo with manager Aaron Boone.
“Right now, Aaron Judge is doing some pretty amazing things,” said Nick Jonas. “We just got to meet him a while ago; he seems like a great guy. And he’s enormous.”
Asked if they had any advice for Volpe, who hails from Watchung, N.J., about an hour from the Jonas’ original stomping grounds of Wyckoff, N.J., Joe Jonas said: “We stay in our lane; we’re just musicians and entertainers. But he’s killing it. I wish the best for him as he jumps in this organization.”
The Jonas Brothers will join a star-studded list of musical acts to play at Yankee Stadium since its opening in 2009, including Jay-Z, Paul McCartney, Bad Bunny, Madonna, Eminem, Justin Timberlake, Garth Brooks, Romeo Santos, Metallica and Roger Waters.
Tickets for the concert will go on sale April 14 at 10 a.m. via yankees.com, yankeesbeisbol.com and ticketmaster.com. Their sixth studio album, "The Album," is scheduled for release on May 12.