TAMPA — Judge Aaron set the fire on Thursday with a plate and then reminded him that he wasn’t just an offensive power.
Shortly after giving the Yankees an early lead to get an RBI single at the top, the judge helped them run at the bottom of the frame when they threw a runner trying to get third in the Rays at Stein Brenner Field.
The judge, known for his big arm, fired a bullet at Nab Cameron Misner at 3 base for the first out, and Will Warren saved from having a runner in the corner without an out.
“Amazing, what a throw,” manager Aaron Boone said. “I’m sure they told Misner before the game. [about Judge’s arm]but he had to live it. It’s as good as you’ll see right away. ”
The Rays also had to live out some of the Judge’s red-hot start of the season.
They kept him in the ballpark, but he went 4-1 on the walk and reached base multiple times with 10 consecutive wins, leading to a high career.
“It feels like he’s been hot right now for almost a decade,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said before the game. “He’s challenging.”
During the Judge’s prolific 2022 and 2024 MVP seasons, he intentionally walked 39 totals, but neither was the ray of light.
They had some opportunities to do so on Thursday, but they chose not to.
“The hardest thing to do is look, he may be the best power hitter in the game and you can claim he is the best pure batter,” Cash said. “He’s on top of everything. The way his swing works, he has the ability to cover every pitch and get a barrel on it. And he can mist the pitch and do a lot of damage with them.” You always keep in mind where he is in the lineup. ”
If the team is pitching around the judges they often make late in the MVP season, they will be more responsible for the shoulders of Jazz Chischorm Jr., Cordy Bellinger, Austin Wells, or anyone batting behind him.
But for now, Boone was enjoying watching the judge go to yet another heater.
“He’s a total package,” Boone said. “He’s becoming the greatest player of all time. That’s what we’re in the middle of sightings.”
DJ lemahieu (calf tension) could begin rehabilitation assignments on Tuesday after playing the field this week after receiving a live hit at the Yankees player development complex.
The veteran infielder will play in an extended spring training game this weekend as he continues the ramp before starting his 20-day rehabilitation clock.
Giancarlo Stanton (tennis elbow) joined the Yankees on a trip to Tampa, but Boone was not committed to moving forward to taking live at-bats.
So far, Stanton has been pounding the Trajekt pitching machine.
JC Eskara (1-4) portrayed the third start of the season, with Wells taking his normal break and catching Warren, Boone said.
