The return of Aaron Judge has brought good news for the New York Yankees at a crucial time in the season.
After missing nearly two weeks with an elbow injury that kept him out between July and August, the outfielder returned on August 5 and has been used as a designated hitter while he recovers fully to return to the field.
Although his production in the first few games after his return was moderate, as expected, on Saturday against the St. Louis Cardinals, Judge not only had an outstanding performance, but also achieved a historic milestone in his career.
Judge achieves historic MLB milestone
In the third inning of Saturday’s game, Aaron Judge hit a solo home run, which represents his 39th home run of the season.
But beyond the number, which is already remarkable in itself, this hit meant a historic record, as Judge has managed at least one home run against each of the other 29 Major League teams, according to Greg Joyce of the New York Post.
In addition to the home run, Judge also hit a run-scoring double in the first inning, recording his first multi-hit game since returning from injury.
The Yankees and their fight to qualify for the playoffs
The Yankees went into Saturday’s game with the second-best run-scoring average in the American League, but the team is not the same without its main figure.
Despite his modest numbers in August up to that point (.172 average, with only one home run in nine games), Judge remained a consistent offensive factor, reaching base in seven of those games.
Globally, the outfielder led MLB with a .330 batting average and a 1.121 OPS, as well as being fourth in home runs and sixth in RBIs.
Before the game against the Cardinals, the Yankees were just 1.5 games ahead of the Cleveland Guardians in the race for the third and final wild-card spot in the American League. Any drop-off or relapse in Judge’s performance could be the difference between advancing or being out in October.
While the Yankees are trying to establish themselves as contenders, the health and level of Aaron Judge will be crucial. For now, his return to action and his new historic mark are positive signs that the captain is ready to lead once again.
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