BALTIMORE — Aaron Judge continues his march through the record books, and once again the Baltimore Orioles find themselves in the middle of it. The Yankees captain is closing in on a milestone at Camden Yards that leaves the Orioles uneasy.
Judge has hit 26 career home runs in Baltimore’s ballpark, just eight shy of Alex Rodriguez’s record for visiting players. Rodriguez sits on top with 34, while David Ortiz is second with 30. The Yankees captain is now within striking distance of both.
The Orioles have been forced to watch Judge thrive in their stadium for years. But their attempts to limit his power in the Yankees 7-0 win only helped him secure a different piece of record — one Major League Baseball has not seen in past 14 seasons.
Judge reaches rare intentional walk milestone
This season, Aaron Judge has been intentionally walked 32 times, the most in the majors, with the latest one by the Orioles on Thursday. The number matches Prince Fielder’s total in 2011 with the Milwaukee Brewers, the last time a player reached that figure.
No hitter since Fielder has forced opponents to hand over first base so often. Orioles pitchers have played a large role in pushing Judge to the milestone this year.
“It is, at least for Judge. This season, he has now been intentionally walked 32 times. That’s the most in MLB since 2011, when Brewers slugger Prince Fielder was sent to first intentionally 32 times as well,” Baseball Reference’s Katie Sharp noted.
Since 2017, managers have had the option to award intentional walks by signal rather than requiring four pitches outside the zone. That makes the strategy even more revealing. Teams are choosing the quick four-finger gesture, preferring to concede rather than risk a pitch in the strike zone.
Fear factor driving decisions
The number shows the fear Judge inspires in opposing dugouts. Teams see him as too dangerous to face in critical situations.
Judge has handled it with composure. Rather than focus on personal statistics, he has framed intentional walks as a way to help the lineup. By getting on base, he creates scoring chances for the hitters behind him.
Still, the frequency of intentional walks illustrates how opposing teams view him. They would rather deal with anyone else than risk a single mistake to the Yankees captain.
Judge’s place among the greats
The intentional walk total adds to Judge’s growing argument as one of the greatest hitters of his generation — and perhaps the best right-handed hitter ever.
By Adjusted OPS+, which accounts for league and ballpark effects, Judge owns a career mark of 178. That figure ranks sixth all time. Every player ahead of him was left-handed: Babe Ruth (206), Ted Williams (191), Oscar Charleston (184), Barry Bonds (182) and Lou Gehrig (179).
“By at least one measure, there’s no argument for anyone other than Judge. We’ll use a stat called Adjusted OPS+,” the analysis shows.
The next closest right-handed hitters are Rogers Hornsby at 175 and Mule Suttles at 172.
Judge is not just competing with modern stars. His numbers put him in the same statistical tier as the greatest players in baseball history.
Current season adds weight to case
Judge’s 2025 campaign has added more fuel to that discussion. He is batting .329 with 48 home runs and has 363 for his career, good for fourth on the Yankees’ all-time list.
The comparison to other right-handed hitters is striking. As one analysis noted, “The next two righties on the list are Rogers Hornsby (175) and Mule Suttles (172). Trout, for what it’s worth, is tied with Ty Cobb for 13th at 163.”
That output places Judge in rare air. At 33 years old, he is producing numbers that rival legends of the past while still adding to his career totals.
Orioles as frequent victims
The Orioles have borne the brunt of Judge’s dominance. His 47 career home runs against Baltimore are his most against any single opponent. Camden Yards has become one of his favorite hitting venues, with 26 long balls already.
The intentional walks issued by Orioles pitchers have only underscored the difficulty of facing him. Their decisions may limit damage on the scoreboard, but they also contribute to Judge’s historic pace.
For Baltimore, it has become a no-win situation. Pitching to the Yankees captain often ends in disaster. Walking him feeds a historic total.
Historic numbers in modern era
Judge’s achievements are even more impressive given the current era. He faces elite pitching staffs across the league, yet his production continues to rival names etched into baseball history.
Analysts note that even if he retired today, Judge’s rate statistics would give him the best case of any right-handed hitter. His 178 OPS+ reflects sustained excellence across ballparks, opponents and seasons.
At 6-foot-7 and 282 pounds, Judge is also unique physically. No player his size has maintained this level of offensive production over time. His combination of power, patience and plate discipline has no modern comparison.
Yankees benefit while Orioles pay price
The Yankees continue to benefit from Judge’s ability to intimidate pitchers, while the Orioles often find themselves in the role of unwilling witness.
His 26 Camden Yards homers rank third among visiting players, trailing only Rodriguez and Ortiz. Every intentional walk adds to his growing case as the most feared hitter of this generation.
“Just open your eyes wide every time he’s in the batter’s box and realize that this is history playing out in real time.”
That reminder feels especially relevant for Orioles fans who continue to watch Judge build his legacy at their expense.
For Judge, the intentional walk mark since 2011 is not just another number. It is proof of the fear he instills and another step toward a career that increasingly places him in the conversation as the best right-handed hitter in baseball history.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
