New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) during the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium. Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Yankees' Aaron Judge shows he's not just an MVP bat with two stunning defensive gems

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Jul 11, 2025 8:45 PM ET

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is the midseason front-runner to win the American League MVP, and his bat is the biggest reason why. But as he showed on Friday night against the Chicago Cubs, he is also capable of making a positive impact in the field.

Judge made two highlight-reel defensive plays in the top of the fourth inning, first taking what would have been a home run away from Pete Crow-Armstrong, and then robbing Dansby Swanson of a single with a diving catch.

The two catches were also on consecutive plays.

First, have a look at his home run robbery of Crow-Armstrong.

All-Rise for the robbery @TheJudge44 pic.twitter.com/Mi4Fhf7tHs
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 12, 2025

Then his diving catch to rob Swanson.

this guy pic.twitter.com/2UYjHuRLkZ
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 12, 2025

Judge struggled at times in the field last season when he primarily played center field, but the move back to right field has significantly helped both him and the Yankees.

Through the first half of this season, he's basically been a neutral fielder, and perhaps even slightly above average. He entered Friday's game with three defensive runs saved above average (via Baseball-Reference), after coming in with a minus-9 mark as a center fielder in 2024. It's not a huge improvement, but it's still something for a Yankees team that badly needed to improve its fundamental defensive play.

Highlight reel plays like the ones he had in the fourth inning will also stand out and make for a nice MVP highlight reel.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

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