Aaron Judge didn’t waste any time reaching another milestone. In his 999th career game, the Yankees captain crushed a three-run homer into the right-field bullpen at Yankee Stadium on Thursday evening, notching the 500th extra-base hit of his career.
The first-inning blast off Arizona’s Merrill Kelly gave New York Yankees an early 3-0 lead.
Aaron Judge’s early homer earned him a place among select company. He became the third-fastest Yankee to reach 500 extra-base hits, trailing only Joe DiMaggio (853 games) and Lou Gehrig (874 games). Judge reached the milestone in 999 games, a testament to his consistent power and production since debuting in 2016.
The slugger’s five home runs this season are tied for the Major League lead, and three of them have come in the first inning. That fast-start pattern isn’t new — since the beginning of 2024, 21 of Aaron Judge’s 63 homers have come in the opening frame.
Trent Grisham and Jazz Chisholm Jr. added solo shots of their own, helping the Yankees outslug the Diamondbacks in a 9-7 win. Chisholm’s homer came against his former team, who traded him to New York in the Juan Soto deal, and marked his first as a Yankee.
The victory capped off a historic 6-1 homestand for the Bronx Bombers, their best start at Yankee Stadium since the current ballpark opened in 2009. Powered by a balanced attack and sharp bullpen work, the Yankees continued to build momentum heading into their first road trip.
Aaron Judge, meanwhile, has looked every bit like the MVP-caliber hitter who carried the team down the stretch last fall. Through five games, he’s posted a jaw-dropping 1.648 OPS, anchoring an offense that leads the league in runs scored and home runs.
While Aaron Judge’s power remains front and center, ESPN’s Paul Hembekides pointed out that a different stat might ultimately define his season — one that could even rewrite the record books. Though the specifics weren’t disclosed, the implication is that Judge’s 2025 could be historic in more ways than one.
Why a .500 OBP might be within reach
Speaking on the Baseball Tonight podcast, Hembekides highlighted an ambitious number Aaron Judge could chase throughout the year: a .500 on-base percentage. The last right-handed hitter to reach that mark? Hall of Famer Josh Gibson, who posted a .500 OBP in 1943 in the Negro Leagues. It’s been 82 years since anyone has done it.
“First base is going to be vacant more frequently for Judge to walk this season,” Hembekides said. With Juan Soto hitting behind him, pitchers may opt to pitch around Judge more often than in past years. In 2024, Judge had 262 plate appearances with a runner on first base. This season, with less protection from names like Paul Goldschmidt or Austin Wells, Hembekides thinks Judge could draw a walk per game.
If Aaron Judge gets four plate appearances each night, walking once already gives him a .250 OBP. Reaching base just one more time — by hit, walk, or error — would elevate that number to .500.
Another reason Hembekides believes in the possibility: umpire accuracy. Aaron Judge’s unique 6-foot-7 frame has long made his strike zone a challenge. In 2023, he was called out on strikes on pitches outside the zone 7.8% of the time — well above league average. That number has dropped to 4.9% since the start of last season, a rate now below average.
“Umpires have finally figured out his strike zone,” Hembekides noted.
That consistency, combined with Aaron Judge’s elite pitch recognition and power, gives him a legitimate chance to post one of the most efficient offensive seasons of the modern era.
Through six games, the Yankees look like a team ready to contend. And with Aaron Judge setting the tone at the top of the lineup, the bar — and the expectations — are sky high.
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