NEW YORK – Aaron Judge is the reigning American League Most Valuable Player and the way he was raking in the batter’s box on Saturday afternoon, he wants to remain the top player in 2025.
Aaron Judge Hits Three Bro Bombs On Saturday
In fact, the Yankees’ captain had a game for the ages, going 4-for-6 with three home runs and a career-high eight RBIs in a 20-9 drubbing over the Brewers at Yankee Stadium. It was also Judge’s 40th multi-homer game, while the Bronx Bombers are 208-67 when he homers in a game. Judge became the fourth player in Yankees history – Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio and Alex Rodriguez are others – to hit three homers in a game.
“It’s a special group,” Judge said. “Any time you get mentioned with those guys – and what they have done in the game – is pretty special. The story isn’t done yet. Hopefully, we can keep adding to [that list].”
Judge’s incredible day started in the first inning against former teammate Nestor Cortes. After Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger hit consecutive homers on the first pitch, Judge decided to join the home run parade. He, too, swung at the first pitch and hit the ball over the left-field wall to give New York a 3-0 lead. Judge, Goldschmidt and Bellinger were the first trio in franchise history to hit consecutive home runs to leadoff a game and the ninth team in Major League history to accomplish that feat.
“[Goldschmidt] set the tone. We had a good game plan going in,” Judge said. “We know Nestor. He has been [a Yankee] for years. He is one of the best lefty pitchers in the game. He is going to go out there and throw strikes, attack you. We just try to go out there and be aggressive in our zone.”
Yankees Hit Franchise-Record Nine Home Runs
Judge had Yankee Stadium rocking throughout the game. He capped off a six-run third inning by hitting a grand slam off left-hander Connor Thomas to give New York a 12-3 lead. An inning later, Judge added to the scoring by slugging another two-run shot over the center-field wall off Thomas.
“I didn’t get to see [Judge] too often in [the National League], but to see with your own eyes is special,” Bellinger said. “He is the best in the game with his consistency and the way he handles himself. There are not enough positive things to say about him. It’s fun to watch.”
Judge had two more at-bats to join Gehrig as the only members of the Yankees to hit four home runs in a game, but Judge fell short. Judge doubled to right field against right-hander Elvis Peguero to score Goldschmidt in the sixth.
The final chance to go yard came two innings later when Judge faced infielder and former teammate Jake Bauers. When Judge came to the plate, Bauers joked he was going to hit Judge in the shoulders. “He didn’t want to see that fourth home run,” Judge said. “I love Jake. He is such a competitor. It’s always fun competing against him.”
Judge ended up lining out to outfielder Isaac Collins.
“I’m just trying to put it in play, get a base hit. I’m not thinking about any history,” Judge said. “The game is the game. I have a job to do. It doesn’t matter who is on the mound. Who is pitching to us or what the speed is. I have a job to do. I didn’t see it other than take a good swing.”
To put some perspective on Judge’s day, he didn’t pick up his eighth RBI of 2024 in his 16th game of the season. He had eight on Saturday alone..
For sure, the AL MVP is in Judge’s sight already.
