Aaron Judge continues to etch his name into New York Yankees history, adding yet another milestone to his growing list of accomplishments. On September 11, Judge launched a 434-foot homer against the Detroit Tigers, tying the legendary Joe DiMaggio for fourth place on the Yankees’ all-time home run list. The ball screamed off his bat at an exit velocity of 114.9 mph, underlining once again why he is regarded as one of the most powerful hitters of his generation.
Reflecting on joining such iconic company, Judge told The Athletic:
“Just two legends. Greats in the game. Great all-time Yankees. Pretty cool being on a list with them. It’s even cooler getting a win.”
Back-to-back fireworks showcase Judge’s dominance
As if tying DiMaggio wasn’t impressive enough, Aaron Judge followed it up the very next day with another historic swing. Facing Boston Red Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito, the Yankees’ captain crushed a towering 468-foot blast over Fenway Park’s famed Green Monster. It was not only his longest home run of the season but also the longest hit at Fenway in 2025.
That strike added to his already remarkable tally of 47 home runs, while maintaining a league-leading .324 batting average. Judge’s rare combination of power and consistency continues to leave both opponents and teammates in awe.
Yankees captain carries the legacy forward
Since being named captain, the first to hold the role since Derek Jeter, Judge has embraced both the pressure and responsibility of wearing the pinstripes. His 362 career homers put him within striking distance of other Yankees legends, trailing Lou Gehrig’s 493 and Mickey Mantle’s 536.
But for Aaron Judge, records aren’t the ultimate goal. Speaking to NJ.com, he emphasized the true priority:
“It’s special, but just like all those guys in front of me on those lists, they weren’t playing for records. They were playing to win. So I’m just trying to follow in their footsteps.”
He added:
“I’m here to win and trying to help put this team in the best position every single night. If that comes with homers and big moments, that’s pretty cool. But I think all of those guys in front of me, and especially DiMaggio, they played to win in New York. So I’m going to keep trying to do that and we can talk about the milestone at the end.”
Teammates and manager laud Aaron Judge’s brilliance
Inside the Yankees clubhouse, Judge’s impact is felt every day. Second baseman Jazz Chisholm praised the captain’s relentless consistency, noting:
“Watching the best player in the league do his thing every day, I’m in awe. We get to see a little bit more than you all, but when he’s not feeling the best, to still go out there and grind out two hits and 114 miles per hour off the bat, he’s a special player.”
Manager Aaron Boone also sees signs of Judge catching fire again at the plate, stating:
“I feel like he’s gotten a lot of Aaron Judge-type swings off. He’s really controlling the strike zone while doing it. These last several days, I feel like he’s really starting to get locked in.”
For Judge, this may just be the beginning of another remarkable run. And for Yankees fans, each at-bat brings not only the possibility of another home run but another piece of history being written.