Aaron Judge leaves Yankees speechless, Boone says Hall of Fame nod is a ‘no-brainer’

Aaron Judge hit his sixth home run of the season Friday in a 9–4 Yankees win over the Pirates, marking the 321st of his career in his 1,000th MLB game. That total ties Babe Ruth’s mark through his first 1,000 games with the Yankees.

Manager Aaron Boone, asked postgame whether Judge has already done enough to be considered a Hall of Famer, didn’t hesitate.

“Yes. No-brainer,” Boone said. “You’re doing alright, kid. Keep it up.”

Aaron Judge, who also doubled, made a leaping catch at the wall and reached base three times, leads MLB with six home runs and 17 RBIs through the Yankees’ first seven games. His OPS is 1.648.

“It’s great praise,” Judge said in response to Boone’s comments. “But I live in the present. We’ve got things to do. A lot of work to do, so we’ll talk about that in a couple of years.”

According to the YES Network, Aaron Judge is the first player in MLB history to reach those home run and RBI totals through his team’s first seven games.

Aaron Judge’s production continues to stand out

Aaron Judge’s seventh-inning two-run homer came off Pirates reliever Tim Mayza — the same pitcher who surrendered his 61st home run during the 2022 season. The ball left his bat at 106.7 mph and traveled 403 feet, per Statcast.

The 32-year-old also made an impact in the field with a catch against the right-field wall in the first inning.

“He’s one of the guys who makes you want to turn the TV on,” outfielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. said earlier this week.

Yankees starter Max Fried, who threw 5.2 innings of one-run ball, also praised Judge’s consistency.

“The great ones do it day in and day out,” Fried said. “To see what he does and the work he puts in, it makes sense.”

Yankees’ lower half of lineup sparks early offense

Oswaldo Cabrera, batting ninth, went 3-for-4 with four RBIs. He delivered a two-run single in the second inning, added another RBI hit in the third, and drew a bases-loaded walk in the fourth.

“The last couple of games weren’t the way that I want,” Cabrera said. “But we’ve been working every day, trying to get better every time and get the results that we want.”

Cabrera visited the Roberto Clemente Museum in Pittsburgh before the game, as he did in 2023 when he later homered during the series.

“You feel the vibes,” he said. “You feel the energy of that museum.”

Jasson Domínguez, Trent Grisham, and Anthony Volpe also contributed as the Yankees’ 6–9 hitters reached base a combined 13 times.

“That’s what those guys are capable of,” Boone said. “They were excellent today.”

Fried improved from his Yankees debut, allowing six hits and one walk with six strikeouts. Bryan Reynolds’ solo homer in the third inning accounted for the only run off the left-hander.

“Max was good,” Boone said. “A little sharper with his command and his lines. Big step from the last one.”

Defensive mistakes and poor pitching prompted boos from Pirates fans, who chanted “Sell the team” and directed frustration toward owner Bob Nutting. A plane flew over PNC Park during the game with a banner that read “SELL THE TEAM BOB.”

Ke’Bryan Hayes hit a three-run homer off Fernando Cruz in the seventh, but it wasn’t enough. The Pirates dropped to 1–6.

With 321 career home runs and a fast start to the 2025 season, Judge continues to deliver MVP-caliber production. He also remains a central figure in the Yankees’ leadership structure.

In 2022, he hit 62 home runs to break the AL single-season record. After an injury-affected 2023, he appears fully healthy and productive to open 2025.

Cooperstown is not Judge’s concern — yet. But the conversation is no longer premature.

“We’ve got things to do,” Judge said. “So we’ll talk about that in a couple of years.”

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