Through the first week of the 2025 MLB season, the New York Yankees look every bit like contenders—again. They lead the majors in home runs, are coming off a much-needed series-saving win over Arizona, and sit near the top of the AL standings.
But beyond the numbers, what’s emerging in the Bronx is something less quantifiable: chemistry. And at the center of that surge are two players who—on paper—couldn’t be more different.
One is Aaron Judge, the 6-foot-7 captain, reigning AL MVP, and face of the franchise. The other is Jazz Chisholm Jr., the flamboyant, left-handed-hitting sparkplug acquired at last year’s deadline. Together, they’ve quickly become the pulse of the Yankees’ early-season charge.
Judge opens with history
The Yankees avoided a sweep Thursday with a 9–7 win over the Diamondbacks, snapping a two-game skid. Fittingly, it was Judge who got the offense going in the bottom of the first.
Facing Arizona starter Merrill Kelly, Judge hammered a three-run home run—the 500th extra-base hit of his career, coming in his 999th game. Only Joe DiMaggio (853) and Lou Gehrig (874) got there faster in Yankees history.
It was also Judge’s league-leading fifth home run of the season, part of a 3-for-4 performance that included a double, four RBIs, and his first stolen base of the year. Through six games, he’s batting .417 with a 1.648 OPS and 15 RBIs—tops in MLB.
When Chisholm posted the clip of Judge’s home run on Instagram, he captioned it with one word: “Regular.”
“He just keeps performing,” Chisholm said postgame. “Showing us why he’s the MVP and one of the best players to ever play this game. We all tell him every day: we want to be him when we grow up.”
It was meant as a joke, but there’s a clear sense in the clubhouse that Judge’s consistency is setting the tone.
Chisholm finding his role
Jazz Chisholm didn’t just watch the show—he contributed to it. The 26-year-old launched his fourth home run of the season Thursday and now sits tied for second in MLB with teammate Anthony Volpe.
Since arriving from Miami in a deadline deal last July, Chisholm has quietly become a key piece of the Yankees’ offense. He hit 11 homers in pinstripes over the final two months of 2024, and has carried that momentum into this season. Through six games, he’s hitting .292 with four home runs and eight RBIs.
Manager Aaron Boone’s decision to hit Chisholm behind Judge is already paying off.
“When Judge gets a single or double, it feels like he could’ve done more,” Boone joked. “But having Jazz right behind him changes the pressure dynamic. He’s producing. It makes the lineup dangerous.”
Chisholm echoed the sentiment. “I’m just trying to keep up with [Judge]. I told him I’m not going to fall too far behind. He’s amazing—just watching how he goes about it every day.”
Judge and Chisholm’s relationship has become a storyline of its own.
The pair bonded quickly after Chisholm joined the Yankees last summer. In a game against the Phillies in late July, Chisholm borrowed Judge’s bat—and homered. Afterward, he joked that Judge deserved “half a homer.”
This spring, the duo’s dynamic has taken on a more competitive edge—particularly in the stolen base department.
“I told Jazz I was going to catch him in steals this year,” Judge said Thursday. “We’re both trying to beat each other. That’s the fun part. We’re going to keep pushing each other.”
Right now, the race is tied 1–1.
It may be light-hearted, but it underscores a larger shift in the Yankees’ clubhouse culture. The energy, the internal competition, the looseness—it’s noticeable.
“There’s a different vibe this year,” Judge said. “Guys are pushing each other. Everybody’s motivated after how last season ended.”
New Energy, same results: Yankees click without Soto
One of the biggest offseason questions surrounding the Yankees was how the offense would look without Juan Soto. The star outfielder’s contract expired after 2024, and while his presence helped spark a deep postseason run, New York ultimately fell short in the World Series against the Dodgers.
Soto’s absence left a significant hole. But early on, the combination of Judge and Chisholm appears to be filling it.
“It’s still a team game,” Chisholm said. “But having our big brother leading us—having that example to follow—it helps a lot.”
Judge’s presence remains the constant, but Chisholm’s energy is giving the Yankees something new: swagger.
“Last year he hit 58 [homers] and had a bad first month,” Chisholm said of Judge. “So imagine what he’s going to do this year. I’m trying to keep up.”
Through six games, Judge is on pace to eclipse last year’s totals, where he batted .322 with 58 homers, 144 RBIs, and won his second AL MVP. The difference? This time, he’s hot out of the gate.
The Yankees open their first road trip Friday in Pittsburgh with a 4–2 record, leading MLB in home runs and tied for the best run differential in the American League.
There’s still a long way to go, but the early signs are promising—not just in the box scores, but in the clubhouse dynamics.
Judge remains the cornerstone. But Chisholm may be the X-factor.
“I’m OK compared to him,” Chisholm said with a grin. “I’m just trying to get to his level.”
If he does, the Yankees may not just return to the World Series—they may finish the job this time.
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