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Yankees' Aaron Judge texted personal hitting coach before HR No. 62
It turns out New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge didn't need a break, as he blasted home run No. 62 of the campaign on Tuesday night to pass Yankees legend Roger Maris and set a new American League single-season record for round-trippers.
It appears the 30-year-old also knew something was off with his approaches before Tuesday evening.
Sports Illustrated senior writer Stephanie Apstein pointed out that Judge texted personal hitting coach Richard Schenck following the opening game of Tuesday's doubleheader at the Texas Rangers, in which the four-time All-Star selection went 1-for-5 with a single. Per Justin Tasch of the New York Post, Judge showed some uncharacteristic frustration following a pop-out:
Aaron Judge is NOT happy #Yankees #RepBX pic.twitter.com/QjIx1Kzm4C
— Pinstripes Nation (@pinstripesnat) October 4, 2022
"He felt he was launching the ball too far toward his pull side, or up the middle; he needed to aim for the opposite field," Apstein wrote. "Schenck calls it 'attacking oppo.' The idea is not necessarily to force yourself to hit the ball the other way. It’s about being on time."
Apstein continued:
"Schenck reminded Judge of a few cues to keep himself on time. A few minutes later, Judge strode to the batter’s box. He took a four-seamer well above the zone for ball one. He took a slider down the middle for strike one. He got nearly the same pitch again. He pulled his bat backward and hit the ball forward."
The rest, as the saying goes, is history:
Remember where you were when #AaronJudge made history. 6️⃣2️⃣ #AllRise pic.twitter.com/w4kbDJf5ZC
— MLB (@MLB) October 5, 2022
Judge, one of the ultimate team-first players in all of MLB, can now fully concentrate on helping the Yankees earn the prize he truly wants this fall: A world championship.
More must-reads:
- Watch: Yankees slugger Aaron Judge hits AL record-breaking home run No. 62
- Watch: Fan jumps barricade going for Aaron Judge's 62nd home run baseball
- The 'Yankees who have hit 40 home runs in a season' quiz
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White Sox asking Mets for promising slugger in potential Luis Robert trade
The New York Mets appear to be clicking again, entering Sunday night's game with the San Francisco Giants on a six-game winning streak. This hot stretch has raised the stakes for David Stearns and company ahead of this week's trade deadline; Stearns has already filled one need, landing lefty reliever Gregory Soto from Baltimore, and could be looking to make a few more moves prior to Thursday. One of the more prominent rumors surrounding the Mets is their interest in Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr., who is having a down year but was an All-Star as recently as 2023. Robert is hitting well right now and has a market, which has led the White Sox to demand a high price from the Mets in trade talks for him. USA Today's Bob Nightengale addressed the Robert trade talks in his Sunday column and mentioned that the White Sox are seeking to acquire Mark Vientos from the Mets in any version of a Robert trade. Vientos, who got off to a cold start to the season, has hit well over the past two weeks, batting .290 with a .732 OPS in 31 at-bats. Robert has also peaked in the month of July, hitting .351 with two home runs, nine RBI, and a .982 OPS in 37 at-bats. While this is admittedly a small sample size, it does offer hope to prospective buyers that Robert can recapture some of his All-Star form with a change of scenery away from the hopeless losing that has consumed the White Sox since the start of the 2024 campaign. Since there are so few center fielders available on the trade market, Chicago has multiple suitors for Robert, who also has two team options for the next two seasons and is still just 27 years old. Setting the Mets' asking price at Vientos indicates the White Sox aren't planning to settle for just minor leaguers as part of a Robert package, which could be richer than what the Mets want to pay right now. While the Mets have the potential to move one of their surplus infielders for a roster upgrade, it doesn't feel like Stearns would want to give up on Vientos, who was one of the team's most dominant hitters in the postseason a year ago, for potentially two months of Robert. Vientos may be best suited to be a designated hitter on the current roster, but he has elite power potential and is under team control through the 2029 season. If the White Sox don't lower the price off of Vientos for a trade, it is possible the Mets look elsewhere to address center field. Other trade options could include Baltimore's Cedric Mullins and a reunion with Harrison Bader, who the Twins will look to shop, while Drew Gilbert's hot July at Triple-A Syracuse offers another internal possibility for the position.
Cowboys make questionable move amid Micah Parsons stalemate
The Dallas Cowboys extended one of their stars Sunday, just not the one fans wanted them to pay. At Cowboys training camp Saturday, Dallas fans serenaded owner Jerry Jones with "Pay Micah [Parsons]" chants. The EDGE, of course, is set to play on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract this season. Jones must not have been listening. He gave tight end Jake Ferguson a new contract instead. Dallas and the 26-year-old pass-catcher agreed to a four-year, $52M contract extension, via NFL Media's Ian Rapoport. This move seems head-scratching. Parsons has won the 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year and earned two first-team All-Pro nods since the Cowboys took him with pick No. 12 in the 2021 NFL Draft. The 26-year-old EDGE also finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Ferguson, meanwhile, is solid but not elite. In three seasons with the Cowboys, the 2022 fourth-round pick has made one Pro Bowl and has never finished with more than 761 receiving yards in a season. An extension for Parsons will devour future cap space. The Cowboys may be worried about that after giving quarterback Dak Prescott (four years, $240M) and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (four years, $136M) long-term deals in 2024. Pittsburgh Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt signed a lucrative three-year, $123M extension on July 17, making him the league's highest-paid non-QB. Parsons could command a similar contract. If cap space is Dallas' primary concern, however, why would it extend Ferguson? He's now set to be the NFL's seventh-highest-paid TE. The Cowboys waited to extend Lamb and Prescott just before the start of the 2024 season. They may be doing the same with Parsons. The star defender has said, "Ownership is always gonna make [contract negotiations] drag out." Regardless, the Cowboys should've paid Parsons before Ferguson. That's a much bigger priority for the team.
Quinn Ewers’ Camp Performance Forces Dolphins Into Tough QB Decision
Being the backup quarterback isn't necessarily the most exciting role for anyone, but for a team like the Miami Dolphins, where starter Tua Tagovailoa has suffered four concussions since entering the NFL in 2020, it could be vital. As of now, a clear battle for that spot has formed between rookie seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers and veteran former first-round selection Zach Wilson as they go head-to-head. Of course, training camp is where these kinds of questions can be solved, and so far, it appears that Ewers has done a good job in putting his best foot forward. On Friday, David Furones of the Sun Sentinel gave a very positive update on the young quarterback, stating, "Dolphins rookie QB Quinn Ewers had a strong third practice of training camp. Made several impressive, big-time throws." The update sparked conversations among many fans, both supporting Ewers and a serious showing that there's interest in seeing who comes out on top. "Show ‘em, Quinn," said one comment. "He just does a lot of things (anticipatory throws, timing throws, MOTF accuracy, etc.) that fit this system much better than what Wilson does. I think with refinement and development we could have a backup in Miami that can operate the offense efficiently…finally," said another. "Love to hear it!" a third added. A fourth stated, "I'd be surprised if he's not the backup.." "I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Quinn Ewers has the physical tools to stick at the next level. It’s just a matter of shaping the rest," a fifth continued. "That’s QB2 potential QB1 in the future Glad we drafted Ewers," said another. Another big test for both Ewers and Wilson will be during the Dolphins' three preseason games, as the coaching staff will get a much better look at how these two perform during live matchups. Luckily for both, though, being the backup is all they're truly fighting for, as Kyle Crabbs of A to Z Sports predicts that each will make the final 53-man roster, with cuts needing to be made by Aug. 27.
New York Mets interested in Cardinals’ elite closer
Even after acquiring left-handed reliever Gregory Soto on Friday, the New York Mets remain focused on upgrading their bullpen ahead of the July 31 trade deadline. In an article published Sunday, The Athletic’s Will Sammon pointed to the need for a top setup option behind All-Star closer Edwin Díaz. He reported that the Mets are interested in multiple relievers but are eyeing at least one arm that would clearly address that specific role. “Ryan Helsley is a reliever the Mets have expressed some interest in, but they’ve yet to have any discussions about him with the St. Louis Cardinals,” Sammon wrote. He noted that certain bubble teams, like the Cardinals (54-52), for example, are waiting until at least the end of the weekend to declare their trade deadline intentions. As a result, it remains uncertain whether Helsley will be available. Helsley, 31, had the fourth-best WAR among all relievers last season while leading MLB with 49 saves. Through 36 appearances in 2025, the two-time All-Star has converted 21 of his 26 save opportunities, posting a 3.00 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and 10.3 K/9 rate. The veteran right-hander is known for his 99-102 mph fastball and 89 mph slider. While his slider remains his most effective pitch (+10 run value), his fastball has been uncharacteristically hit hard in 2025. As of Sunday morning, opponents are batting .406 against it, contributing to his rising home run rate. Díaz, 31, has been lights out for the Mets this season, collecting 22 saves with a 1.51 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and 13.4 K/9 rate in 41 appearances. But behind him, things have been less steady: right-handers Reed Garrett, Ryne Stanek, and Huascar Brazobán have combined for 13 blown saves in 2025. Read More: Trevor Hoffman joins in celebrating Billy Wagner’s Hall of Fame induction Bringing in an arm like Helsley would not only address the Mets’ need for a setup man, but it would also give them a more dependable closing option when situations dictate that Díaz appear earlier in a game than the ninth inning. This would be especially valuable during the postseason, when managers tend to make such aggressive moves more frequently. Helsley is in his final year of club control before hitting free agency, making him a rental rather than a long-term solution. This is especially noteworthy for New York, since Díaz has the ability to opt out of the two years and $37 million remaining on his contract after this season.
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