New York — Aaron Judge’s relentless march through baseball history continued Wednesday night at Rogers Centre. The New York Yankees superstar crushed his 37th home run of 2025 while simultaneously putting to rest concerns about a potential injury.
The mammoth blast pushed Judge’s career total to 352 home runs, creating a tie for 99th place on MLB’s all-time list with Ryan Braun and Ellis Burks. The milestone also elevated him past Alex Rodriguez into sixth place in Yankees franchise history, with only five legends remaining ahead of him.
Judge now trails just Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, and Babe Ruth on the Yankees’ all-time home run leaderboard.
Yankees royalty within Judge’s reach
Berra’s franchise record of 358 homers sits just six blasts away from Judge’s current total. DiMaggio’s mark of 361 is only nine home runs ahead. With more than two months left in the regular season, Aaron appears poised to claim fourth place in Yankees history before October arrives.
Rodriguez spent 12 seasons wearing pinstripes and held a significant standing in Yankees home run lore. But the torch has officially changed hands to Judge, who made his debut a decade after A-Rod’s final game and has since become the organization’s most recognizable face.
Statistical dominance across the board
Aaron Judge’s 2025 numbers reflect sustained excellence at the highest level. He’s batting .346 with a .454 on-base percentage, .718 slugging percentage, and 1.172 OPS. The captain leads Major League Baseball in virtually every major offensive category while maintaining his position atop the latest MLB Hitter Power Rankings.
Only Seattle’s Cal Raleigh has hit more home runs this season with 39 long balls.
Judge’s slugging percentage above .700 could make him the first player since Barry Bonds to achieve consecutive seasons at that level. Bonds accomplished the feat across four straight campaigns from 2001 through 2004. Judge also joins an exclusive group of just nine players in MLB history with three or more .700+ slugging seasons.
Injury concerns prove unfounded
Tuesday night’s victory over the Blue Jays created momentary anxiety among Yankees fans. Judge sprinted toward the right-field corner in the seventh inning to haul in Alejandro Kirk’s fly ball. After completing the catch and throwing back to the infield, cameras captured Judge grimacing and grabbing his right hand.
YES Network analyst John Flaherty noted the apparent discomfort during the broadcast.
“Grimacing in pain there… He’s gripping his right hand,” Flaherty observed.
The moment sparked immediate speculation about Judge’s health. But both the player and manager, Aaron Boone, quickly addressed the situation. The Yankees captain dismissed the concern by explaining his typical reactions during games.
“I make facial expressions all the time,” Judge said, emphasizing that he never exited the contest.
Boone also minimized the incident’s significance.
“He’s OK. Not much. Just probably a throw that didn’t feel great,” Boone said.
Designated hitter role was predetermined
Judge appeared in Wednesday’s 8-4 loss to the Blue Jays as the designated hitter, though Boone clarified the decision was made well in advance rather than as a response to any physical issue.
“He’s not DH’ing because of that,” Boone confirmed. “I talked to (Stanton) and Judge going into this series… This one was scheduled a little bit ahead of time with those guys.”
The Yankees captain has filled the DH role 22 times this season, including several appearances at Rogers Centre, where the artificial turf can create additional physical stress. Boone acknowledged the surface’s demanding nature on players’ bodies.
Judge’s production as a designated hitter remains exceptional. He entered the series finale batting .333 with a .457 on-base percentage and .840 slugging percentage, plus 11 homers and 21 RBIs in that role.
Durability remains key asset
Judge has appeared in all 102 Yankees games this season, demonstrating remarkable availability in an era where load management has become commonplace. He’s started 79 games in right field and 22 as designated hitter, with one pinch-hitting appearance.
Boone emphasized the value of strategic rest days for his captain.
“To get him those (DH) days, especially on the days we come to a place where it’s turf… I think they matter,” Boone said.
The Yankees captain’s consistent presence has been crucial for a Yankees team dealing with various injuries and performance inconsistencies. With New York recently falling behind Toronto in the American League East race, Judge’s health and productivity remain central to any championship aspirations.
Yankees explore trade market support
While Judge continues his MVP-caliber campaign, the Yankees front office is actively evaluating potential trade acquisitions. Injuries, defensive struggles, and underperformance at multiple positions have created roster needs ahead of the July 31 deadline.
Reports have linked New York to both infield and bullpen reinforcements as the organization seeks to bolster its playoff chances.
Judge’s ability to remain healthy and productive has kept the Yankees competitive throughout their challenging stretch. His leadership qualities have been as evident as his power numbers during difficult periods.
At 33 years old, Judge may not have the extended timeline that younger players enjoy when chasing all-time records. But he’s maximizing every opportunity at the plate. As Boone characterized Tuesday’s moment, it was simply “a one-off moment.”
With Judge back in the lineup and healthy, Yankees supporters can maintain optimism about their team’s direction.
His every at-bat continues to create baseball history in real time.
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