What’s up with Aaron Judge? Yankees weigh in

Apr 02, 2026 - 13:45

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What’s up with Aaron Judge? Yankees weigh in

SEATTLE — Paul Goldschmidt was in the batter’s box with two on and two down in the Yankees' sixth inning of Tuesday’s game at T-Mobile Park as Aaron Judge watched.

With one foot on the top dugout step and the other on the second, Judge leaned on the padded rail, studying the action, with left fielder Cody Bellinger to his left, assistant hitting coach Casey Dykes to his right.

Mariners righty Logan Gilbert’s 1-1 pitch was a grooved middle-in fastball. Goldschmidt, off the bench and in the lineup, showed he still has a lot of right-handed pop at age 38, blasting the mistake pitch to deep, deep left field for a home run.

Even before the baseball sailed over the wall, Judge hopped over the dugout railing to clap and cheer Goldschmidt’s first homer of the season, then they slapped hands when meeting at the dugout entrance.

Suddenly ahead 4-0, the Yankees were on their way to a 5-3 victory that finished off a season-opening 5-1 road trip that had a lot more to do with historic pitching than the usual heroics from Judge, their three-time American League MVP.

It’s been a rough first week for the Yankees captain, whose biggest contribution in Wednesday’s series finale probably was leadership and cheerleading.

In four at-bats, Judge was hitless with a strikeout. He reached first base his last time up on a throwing error by Mariners third baseman Brendan Donovan, then was caught stealing with a perfect throw by catcher Cal Raleigh.

Judge’s afternoon collar sunk his average to .125 in six games with three hits and 11 strikeouts in 24 at-bats. He’s hit the ball right at outfielders here and there, but looked bad chasing in other at-bats.

Should we make anything of the Yankees’ Superman more resembling Clark Kent for a week?

If you’re just a tad concerned that this could be the start of Judge regressing to mere-mortal status in 2026, here’s a little something to wet your fancy:

Judge was 3-for-24 after six games two years ago, the season he was batting .197 through May 2.

How did that turn out? He ended nearly winning a Triple Crown with 58 homers, 144 RBIs and a .322 average.

Here’s a little more Yankees history to ponder:

Judge batted .211 with one homer in his first six games in 2017, then was up to .303 with 10 homers by the end of April and finished at .284 with an AL rookie record 52 dingers.

Before Sunday’s game, Yankees manager Aaron Boone was asked if he typically sees something from Judge to sense a hot streak.

Smiling, Boone responded, “When he shows up! Yeah, I saw him walk in today, so that could be the sign!”

It wasn’t, but maybe Friday when the 5-1 Yankees play the 5-1 Marlins in their home opener.

The Yankees know it’s coming because it always does.

“It’s just early in the season,” Boone said. “It’s a small stretch. Even for him, when it’s not clicking at a level we’re accustomed to seeing with him all the time, he’s still had a major impact in two wins offensively coupled with all the other things he brings to the table on defense and in the dugout.”

Judge’s two homers were big ones.

Last Friday’s game in San Francisco was scoreless until Judge hit a two-run homer in the sixth, and the Yankees went on to win 3-0. The next day, he hit a solo shot in a 3-1 Yankees win.

No, the Yankees aren’t concerned, not even a little bit.

“With Judgy, it’s always a matter of time before he gets dialed in from a timing standpoint, and off we go,” Boone said.