Aaron Judge was overshadowed for much of the offseason. Juan Soto’s move to the Mets dominated headlines. The Yankees’ roster questions without him — and the injuries that followed — created uncertainty heading into Opening Day.
But across three games in the Bronx, Aaron Judge delivered a reminder.
Aaron Judge named AL Player of the Week after explosive Opening Series
The Yankees captain was named American League Player of the Week on Monday after posting a .545/.643/1.818 slash line with four home runs and 11 RBIs in a three-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers. He homered in each game — including a grand slam on Sunday — and helped New York set a franchise record with 15 home runs in a single series.
It’s the first weekly award of the season for Judge, who is looking to rebound after a slower start in 2024. This year, he wasted no time. He reached base nine times in 14 plate appearances and drove in nearly one-third of the team’s 36 runs in the series.
Aaron Judge’s performance came at a critical moment for the Yankees. Without Soto and missing several key players due to injury, there were concerns about how competitive the team would be to start the season. Instead, they left the weekend with three wins, a +26 run differential, and a reassertion of their offensive ceiling — led by their captain.
Aaron Judge will face off against National League Player of the Week Eugenio Suarez when the Arizona Diamondbacks arrive at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday. Suarez also hit four home runs in his first three games.
The Yankees’ outfield was one of the biggest offseason questions after losing Soto in free agency. Judge, who moved back to right field full-time, provided immediate stability on both sides of the ball. His impact — and availability — remain central to the Yankees’ hopes of returning to the postseason after missing out in 2024.
The message was clear after Opening Weekend: Judge is healthy, producing, and once again at the center of everything the Yankees are trying to do.
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