The New York Yankees’ power-hitting captain, Aaron Judge, continued his reign of dominance by launching his 33rd home run of the season in a 4-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. The blast not only restored a two-run lead for the Yankees but also ignited a playful debate on Reddit about the plethora of post-home-run handshakes Judge needs to master.
Aaron Judge’s home run: A familiar sight at Camden Yards
In the third inning, facing Orioles’ starter Cade Povich, Aaron Judge connected with a 77.5 mph curveball, sending it 397 feet over the left-field wall at Camden Yards. The home run, which came off the bat at a blistering 107.4 mph, marked Judge’s 23rd career homer in Baltimore’s ballpark. This milestone was significant not just for the game but also for Judge’s personal record. He became one of only three Yankees to hit 33 home runs before the All-Star break, joining the legendary Roger Maris and achieving this feat for the second time in his career, the first being in 2022.
Aaron Judge’s performance was a relief for Yankees fans, as he had been in a slump, collecting only four hits in 31 at-bats over the previous eight games. His power surge on Friday reminded everyone why he’s a six-time All-Star and set to start for the American League at Globe Life Field in the upcoming All-Star Game.
The secret handshake
The Reddit community quickly turned its attention to a light-hearted topic following Aaron Judge’s home run: the numerous secret handshakes he must remember. The discussion was sparked by a post that humorously pondered, “How many post-HR secret handshakes does Aaron Judge need to memorize?”
One user, Tooskinnyrealmarlon, humorously compared Judge’s handshake repertoire to that of NBA superstar LeBron James, stating, “As many as LeBron.”
Another user, Kenny_Heisman, added, “He has a lot of practice doing them,” highlighting Judge’s familiarity with these post-homer rituals due to his frequent home runs. This was further emphasized by DarthLuke84, who confidently asserted, “As many as he wants.”
The conversation also took a nostalgic turn with STIK-ball remarking, “A true captain knows his crew,” suggesting that Aaron Judge’s ability to remember numerous handshakes is a testament to his leadership and camaraderie with teammates.
A particularly intriguing suggestion came from Top_Value8310, who proposed, “He should set a record for how many different handshakes he does in a single season. He woulda 30+ already if he did a different one for every homer.”
While Aaron Judge’s post-home run celebrations have always been a talking point, his recent collaboration with teammate Juan Soto has quickly become a fan favorite. Reddit user NoobSkin69 highlighted this, saying, “Judge/Soto 55 hand slaps and then slam on the helmet is already iconic.” This elaborate handshake, involving a series of precise hand slaps followed by a dramatic helmet slam, showcases the fun and energetic dynamic between the two sluggers.
Another fan, billybatsdeadbody, compared various handshakes Judge has with teammates, noting, “Him and Bader was the best, Soto Judge very close second. I think he can forget about the him and Gleyber shake.” This comment sparked further discussions on the platform, with fans sharing their preferences and ranking Judge’s handshake routines.
As Judge prepares for the All-Star Game and the second half of the season, fans can look forward to more home runs, more victories, and undoubtedly, more memorable handshakes. What do you think? Leave your comment below!
