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Aaron Judge - What might future hold for Judge, Yankees?
NEW YORK -- It came down to Aaron Judge once again, a situation that the Yankees have steered into all summer long. Assuming the familiar, imposing stance that cracked an American League-record 62 home runs during the regular season, the game’s most recognizable slugger was the team’s last hope of staving off winter for another evening. But the clock had already struck midnight in New York, and soon it would too for the 2022 Yankees. Judge’s mighty cut produced only a routine tapper back to pitcher Ryan Pressly, who jogged the ball to first base with an underhand flip, the final out of the Astros’ 6-5 victory over the Yankees in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series. Judge jogged down the baseline, planted his right foot on first base, then glanced over his left shoulder as the Astros began to celebrate on the field -- his field. Though technically it wasn’t anymore: for the first time in his professional career, Judge will be untethered, testing the waters of free agency. There is a chance that we have seen his final at-bat in a Yankees uniform. “Getting a chance to wear the pinstripes and play right field at Yankee Stadium, that’s an incredible honor,” Judge said. “I definitely didn’t take it for granted at any point. I always checked myself pregame when I’d say a little prayer, I’d kind of look around the stadium and pinch myself. There’s very few individuals who get a chance to run on that field and play in front of the fans.” It was, as general manager Brian Cashman has said, “the all-time best bet.” Judge turned down a seven-year, $213.5 million extension from the Yankees on Opening Day, responding with a season for the ages. In 157 games, Judge batted .311/.425/.686, leading the Majors in homers, runs (133), RBIs (131), slugging percentage, on-base percentage, OPS+ (211) and total bases (391). His chase to shatter Roger Maris’ 61-year-old AL record for home runs in a single season captivated the sports world, culminating with a 62nd home run in the first game of an Oct. 4 doubleheader at Texas.