#ALLRISE: JUDGE HITS FIRST TWO HOME RUNS OF THE SEASON

Source: AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

Aaron Judge is a big guy with a big swing.  His exit velocity and hard hit percentage are in the 99th percentile according to MLB Statcast.  And his two home runs in the game against the Orioles in Camden Yards last night, home run 1 and 2 of the season, totaled 830 feet collectively.  In each case, the ball just launched into centerfield off of right hander Dyan Bundy, who wrecked the Yankees back in New York last week but had a pitch count in the 70s mid-way through the 3rd inning.  No doubt Judge can hit and this is the energy the team needs to start taking care of business.

Judge has had his challenges at the plate to start the season with 14 strikeouts in his first 26 at-bats. Being rung up on strikes a few too many times for his liking, culminated in what he believes was his worst major league game of his career in Thursday's come from behind win against the Orioles.  "During his post-game presser, Judge clearly was over going 0-for-5 with four strikeouts, a caught stealing and some very rare in-game venting due to the plate ump widening the strike zone during his at-bats," reported NJ.com.  He took out some of his frustrations last night with two big home runs, clearly, but Judge knows that striking out is as much a part of the game as getting hits.

"I still feel locked in,” Judge said. “I feel like I am seeing pitches well. I fouled off a couple of pitches I should have done damage with. My first at-bat I (hit a liner) right at the second baseman. That’s just baseball. Just how it goes. Sometimes the balls fall, sometimes they don’t,” according to NJ.com.

Source: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

Despite Judge's strike outs, he has managed to get clutch base hits and is hovering with a batting average right around .300.  We've all said it in one way or another since the start of the season last week: It is just the very beginning of the season.  As BYB writer Missy stated in her piece Friday entitled, KEEPING THE GLASS HALF FULL, "Mindfulness can go a long way and when you think about the length of the season, the dog days of summer and the cool days in the fall, everyone will forget the spring, which is arguably the most difficult season to navigate." 

Source: NY Post

Judge is making it happen for the Yankees, overcoming his frustrating Thursday night game, putting the tension behind him and continuing to take on his leadership role on the team.  His banter with reporters, mindfulness with regards his hitting, and his electric on the field presence demonstrate the kind of player Judge is and what he brings to the team.  He can make it happen.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof