A new sense of urgency in the Bronx? For Aaron Jud...
Key takeaways
- So, I do have to catch myself every now and then and just realize how remarkable it is.
- A week later, Judge carries a 1.047 OPS into Wednesday's series finale at the Baltimore Orioles.
- In his decade in the Bronx, the Yankees' captain has checked just about every box possible.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
John Fisher/Getty Images Jorge Castillo May 13, 2026, 07:00 AM ETClose ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the Washington Wizards from 2014 to 2016 and the Washington Nationals from 2016 to 2018 for The Washington Post before covering the Los Angeles Dodgers and MLB for the Los Angeles Times from 2018 to 2024.Follow on XMultiple Authors Email Print Open Extended Reactions New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone glanced up at the scoreboard last Wednesday and noticed that Aaron Judge's OPS was approaching 1.100, a number he has topped three of the past four years. The kind of stats that would be astounding for nearly every other major league hitter has become inconceivably routine for Judge.
"It's like, 'How's he doing? Fine,'" Boone said. "It's unbelievable. It really is. So, I do have to catch myself every now and then and just realize how remarkable it is. I really think he's just playing a different game than the rest."
A week later, Judge carries a 1.047 OPS into Wednesday's series finale at the Baltimore Orioles. He has slugged 16 home runs through 43 games, putting him on pace for 60 homers, just two shy of the American League record he set in 2022. He's squarely in early contention to become just the third player, and the first Yankee, to win three straight MVP awards.