Aaron Judge flexes captain power, reminds no ceiling exists for Yankees star

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Aaron Judge’s leadoff home run let the Yankees steal a march over the Royals and showed why he could topple baseball benchmarks.

Some performances transcend traditional metrics, defying the boundaries of what statistics alone can convey. Yet for Aaron Judge, even the raw numbers tell a tale of extraordinary achievement. As the 2025 MLB season reaches its 18-game mark, the Yankees’ captain is delivering at a pace that hints at another historic campaign unfolding in the Bronx.

“He just does it all, obviously,” claimed pitcher Clarke Schmidt. “He’s Captain America.”

Wednesday night saw Judge deliver a flawless 3-for-3 performance plus a walk, highlighted by a decisive solo homer in the seventh inning that propelled the New York Yankees to a 4-3 victory and series sweep over the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium. Before a crowd of 43,720, the franchise cornerstone reaffirmed his status as baseball’s most intimidating offensive force.

Dominating the leaderboards

Prior to the first pitch, Judge stood atop all Major League hitters in batting average (.409), on-base percentage (.519), and slugging percentage (.803), while leading the American League with 21 RBIs. His seventh-inning blast—a towering shot into the bullpen off Royals reliever John Schreiber—marked his seventh homer of the season, continuing his trajectory toward potentially historic numbers. At his current pace, Judge projects to finish with 63 home runs, which would surpass his own franchise record established in 2022.

Despite his growing list of accomplishments, Judge maintains a straightforward approach.

“I want to get on base — that’s the biggest thing,” the slugger told reporters after the game, shifting focus away from his impressive statistics. “Hitting in the middle of the order and hitting second a lot,” Judge said. “I’ve got to touch first base. That’s my job; touch first base and let the guys behind me do their thing, and if there’s guys out there on the pond, try to drive them in.”

His excellence extends beyond traditional categories. Judge has reached base multiple times in 12 of his last 13 outings and currently rides a nine-game streak of such performances. He leads the league in total bases, while his combined OBP and SLG figures yield baseball’s highest OPS.

Complete performance by Aaron Judge

Judge’s contribution extended well beyond his game-changing home run. He reached base in all four plate appearances, lacing a single in the first, driving a double in the third, and drawing an intentional walk in the fourth. His consistency throughout the contest was remarkable.

“Tonight was the most locked-in I felt he was at-bat wise, where he was just on everything,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone observed. “Nothing’s really going to surprise me, so I’m not going to put a ceiling on anything he does.”

Fernando Cruz, stepping in for regular closer Devin Williams, navigated a tense final two innings to secure his first career save. The final out came courtesy of a spectacular diving catch by Cody Bellinger in right field. However, he was quick to give the credit for victory to his captain.

“He’s a superhuman,” he said about Judge.

“It’s truly amazing,” Bellinger added, “In any situation, he’s going to come out on top. He’s the best player on this planet, and it’s fun to watch.”

Team effort secures victory

While Judge commanded the spotlight, key contributions emerged throughout the lineup. Anthony Volpe, mired in a 2-for-23 slump, delivered a crucial two-run double in the third inning. Bellinger, working through his own 5-for-43 cold stretch, contributed an RBI double in the fourth that temporarily provided a 3-1 advantage.

Kansas City responded with two runs in the fifth, sparked by Kyle Isbel’s triple and Jonathan India’s groundout, but their offensive output ended there.

Clarke Schmidt, making his first appearance of the season, delivered much-needed length for a rotation seeking stability. The right-hander worked through 5 2/3 innings, an impressive showing considering his longest rehabilitation outing spanned just four frames. He surrendered three runs before Mark Leiter Jr. and Fernando Cruz handled the remaining outs.

The Yankees’ relief corps, which had shown occasional vulnerability early this season, stood firm in the later frames. Leiter Jr. continued his effective work, while Cruz demonstrated poise under pressure in high-stakes situations.

Carrying momentum south

With the victory, the Yankees improved to 11-7, concluding a successful 4-2 homestand. Their next challenge is a four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Florida, which currently serves as the Rays’ temporary home following damage to Tropicana Field. The Yankees journey south riding a wave of momentum, powered by their surging captain.

This campaign has featured unexpected contributors—from Ben Rice’s emergence to Luke Weaver’s bullpen excellence—but Judge remains the central force driving this team forward. As long as he maintains his health and focused approach at the plate, the Yankees enter each contest with justified confidence.

Can Judge possibly maintain this seemingly impossible statistical pace? “Nothing’s really going to surprise me, so I’m not going to put a ceiling on anything he does,” Boone remarked after Judge’s decisive blast proved sufficient for victory.

The Yankees need not concern themselves with predictions. If Judge maintains this trajectory, his numbers will speak volumes—potentially resonating well into October’s championship chase.

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