There’s no doubt about Aaron Judge’s abilities with the bat, but his defensive skills are equally impressive.
During a hot streak at the plate where he’s closing in on home run records once again, Judge showcased his defensive prowess with a remarkable play against the Washington Nationals on Monday night.
With the Yankees ahead 2-0 in the fourth inning, Nationals’ Andrés Chaparro hit a deep fly ball that seemed destined for the left centerfield stands. But Judge had other plans.
The Yankees’ centerfielder tracked the ball to the warning track, timed his jump perfectly, and made an incredible catch at the top of the wall, preventing a home run. But he didn’t stop there.
Upon landing, Judge threw a perfect strike to second base, where Gleyber Torres was ready for the cutoff. Nationals’ James Wood, who was on first base, was caught off guard and didn’t make it back in time.
Torres completed the inning-ending double play by throwing Wood out at first, all thanks to Judge’s heroics in saving the potential home run.
A camera angle from behind the wall confirmed that the ball would have cleared the fence if not for Judge’s spectacular play.
This play preserved the Yankees’ lead, and they went on to win 5-2.
Just the day before, Judge hit his 50th and 51st home runs of the season against the Colorado Rockies. He now leads the MLB in home runs, with 10 more than the second-place hitter, Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Judge has now surpassed the 50-home run mark for the third time in his career and is on track to potentially break his own AL single-season record of 62 home runs set two years ago.
His exceptional performances at the plate and in the outfield make him a truly remarkable player.