BOSTON — Aaron Judge carved his name deeper into baseball history Friday night at Fenway Park. With one powerful swing, the Yankees captain rewrote three different record books. His 362nd career home run cleared the Green Monster and soared into the Boston night, cementing a new chapter in Yankees lore.
Judge’s 468-foot blast off Red Sox starter Lucas Giolito achieved a rare triple milestone. It pushed him past Joe DiMaggio on the Yankees’ all-time home run list, gave him the franchise crown for most home runs by a right-handed hitter, and set a new Major League Baseball record for first-inning homers in a single season.
The shot helped spark a 4-1 Yankees win over Boston before a sellout crowd of 36,760. The victory bolstered New York’s hold on a postseason spot in the American League wild card race.
Yankees franchise history rewritten with 362nd homer
Judge’s 47th homer of 2025 lifted him past DiMaggio’s 361, moving him into sole possession of fourth place on the Yankees’ career list. The only players with more are Babe Ruth (659), Mickey Mantle (536), and Lou Gehrig (493).
The milestone also underscored Judge’s efficiency. At 33, he needed just 1,130 games to reach 362 homers. DiMaggio required 1,736 games across his 13-year Hall of Fame career.
“It’s special, but just like all those guys in front of me on those lists, they weren’t playing for records,” Judge said. “They were playing to win. So I’m just trying to follow in their footsteps. I’m here to win.”
Judge connected on Giolito’s second pitch, a 92.5 mph fastball. The ball left his bat at 112.6 mph and landed on Lansdowne Street, silencing the Fenway crowd.
Right-handed power crown claimed
The homer also gave Aaron Judge another franchise record. He now holds the Yankees’ all-time lead in home runs by a right-handed batter, surpassing DiMaggio’s total.
While Ruth, Mantle, and Gehrig dominate the overall chart as left-handed icons, Judge has secured the top spot among right-handed hitters in pinstripes. His rise reflects his unmatched combination of size, strength, and precise mechanics.
Standing 6-foot-7 and weighing 282 pounds, Judge generates some of the game’s highest exit velocities. His power profile has separated him from peers and earned him recognition as the most dangerous right-handed slugger of his generation.
“I think all those guys in front of me, and especially DiMaggio, they played to win in New York and win for this team,” Judge said. “So I’m going to keep trying to do that, and we can talk about all the milestones at the end.”
MLB record falls with Judge’s 19th first-inning blast
The historic swing also carried league-wide implications. Judge’s homer was his 19th of the season in the first inning, a new MLB single-season record.
The mark broke the previous record of 18. Rodriguez first set it in 2001 with the Texas Rangers, and Judge matched it during his 2024 MVP campaign. Now, he stands alone with 19.
First-inning power has fueled much of the Yankees’ success this year. Judge has given the lineup early leads that often set the tone for wins.
“That was a big shot in the arm for us, to get it going,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Aaron hitting one of those — you know, one of those Aaron blows — definitely got the boys going.”
Rookie catcher Ben Rice added that the blast “electrified us” and shifted momentum immediately.
Setting tone in hostile territory
The setting only amplified the achievement. Fenway Park, where DiMaggio once crafted his own legend, became the backdrop for Judge’s record night.
The crowd was ready for a late-season showdown, but Judge’s early strike drained the energy from the ballpark. In a crucial game against a division rival, he showed once again that he thrives on baseball’s biggest stages.
“Especially any time you come into Fenway Park, it’s going to be an electric atmosphere,” Judge said. “For us getting a run there in the first and then grabbing the second one in the third, kind of put the crowd out of it a little bit was big-time.”
Triple milestone marks special night
Rarely does one swing alter multiple record books. Judge’s homer did just that, rewriting Yankees history in two categories while setting a league standard.
His pace makes the accomplishment even more striking. He became the fastest player in MLB history to hit 300 and 350 homers. At his career rate of 52 per 162 games, he could approach Gehrig’s 493 total in just a few more seasons.
Friday’s triple milestone underscored both Judge’s dominance in 2025 and his growing legacy among Yankees greats.
As bat blasts, elbow under watch
Judge continues to manage the effects of a right elbow flexor strain suffered on July 25. Since returning from the injured list on Aug. 5, he has rotated between designated hitter and right field.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman confirmed that Judge is healthy, though his rehabilitation is effectively taking place at the big-league level. His throwing strength has not fully returned, but Cashman expects progress before the season ends.
“He’s healthy now,” Cashman said. “But then obviously doing it correctly, so like we’d be doing a rehab program in the minor leagues where you’d stagger it. But we’re unfortunately having to do that here in the big leagues.”
Building momentum for October
Judge’s timing could not be better. Since Aug. 27, he has hit .333 with a 1.265 OPS over 15 games. He has homered in four straight contests after enduring a six-game drought.
“I feel like he’s getting on time good,” Boone said. “He’s finishing his move so he’s getting into really strong hitting position. And I feel like he’s gotten a lot of Aaron Judge-type swings off.”
His production continues to place him on a trajectory toward even bigger milestones. If he maintains his current pace, he could climb past Gehrig within three seasons.
Judge, though, remains focused on winning.
“I’m trying to help put this team in the best position every single night,” Judge said. “That comes with homers, that comes with big moments like that. It’s pretty cool. But I think all those guys in front of me — and especially DiMaggio — all those guys they played to win in New York and win for this team.”
With 15 games left in the regular season, Judge’s bat could decide New York’s fate. The Yankees trail the Toronto Blue Jays by three games in the AL East and hold a narrow edge over Boston in the wild card race.
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