Yankees Make Historic Aaron Judge Announcement on Saturday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Sep 27, 2025 8:02 PM ET

The New York Yankees are finishing the season on a high note, currently in the midst of a seven-game winning streak and entering Sunday with a chance to win the AL East and clinch a first-round bye. Even if the division rival Toronto Blue Jays hold on for first place, the Yankees will be entering the postseason with momentum.

New York’s top performer remains team captain Aaron Judge, who stands as the most feared hitter not just in the lineup but across the league. The 33-year-old right-handed slugger earned his fifth consecutive All-Star selection after a stellar first half and has carried that momentum into the final stretch of the regular season. Judge is currently locked in a tight race for AL MVP with Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh. If he finishes ahead, it would mark the third time he’s taken home the award in his career.

Judge has continued to heat up in September, posting a .377 batting average, .537 on-base percentage, 1.329 OPS, ten home runs and 17 RBIs in his last 24 games. During Saturday's 6–1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles, Judge launched his 53rd home run of the year in the bottom of the first inning, which the Yankees announced after the game set an MLB record.

“From Yankees PR: Aaron Judge's 20 HR in the first inning this season are the most home runs in the first inning in a single season in major-league history. 28 of his 53 HR this year have tied the game (four) or given the Yankees the lead (24)…his 24 go-ahead home runs are the most in the majors,” wrote The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty.

From Yankees PR:

Aaron Judge's 20 HR in the first inning this season are the most home runs in the first inning in a single season in major-league history.

28 of his 53 HR this year have tied the game (four) or given the Yankees the lead (24)…his 24 go-ahead home runs are the…
— Brendan Kuty ‍♂️ (@BrendanKutyNJ) September 27, 2025

Judge has continued to be the focal point of the Yankees offense, and his 20 first-inning home runs have certainly helped the offense thrive as the best in the league (5.3 runs per game).

As the calendar flips to October, Judge will look to rewrite his narrative, as he’s faced backlash for his poor performances during the postseason.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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