BOSTON — It’s not often a player puts Joe DiMaggio in the rearview mirror, but that’s what Aaron Judge did Friday night. 

Showing again that his elbow isn’t slowing him down at the plate, Judge continued his assault on the Yankees record book by passing DiMaggio on the franchise home run list with a first-inning blast in a 4-1 win over the Red Sox. 

Judge is alone in fourth place, with 362 career home runs. 

Next up: Lou Gehrig at 493. 

Aaron Judge rounds the bases on his solo home run to pass Yankee legend Joe DiMaggio in the first inning on Sept. 12, 2025. Jason Szenes / New York Post

“All those guys in front of me on that list weren’t playing for records,” Judge said. “They were playing for wins, so I’m just trying to follow in their footsteps. I’m here to win.” 

No. 362 was a massive blast, over the Green Monster in left-center at an estimated 468 feet. 

Aaron Judge made more Yankees home run history on Friday.

Judge’s 47th homer of the season was his fourth in his past four games after he hit a pair against the Tigers on Thursday. 

All this as Judge deals with the aftereffects of his flexor strain in his right elbow. 

He served as the DH on Friday after starting in right field in three of the previous four games. But he’s still not firing his throws like he normally does, with Judge typically having among the best arms in the majors when healthy. 

Prior to the game, general manager Brian Cashman said Judge — who’s been working his way back from the injury he suffered on July 25 — is healthy and is basically going through a rehab process at the major league level. 

Aaron Judge hit a mammoth shot to left field in the first inning. Jason Szenes / New York Post

“Obviously, we gave him the time to heal,” Cashman said of Judge’s IL stint initially after suffering the injury. “Now, you’re doing the rehab progression, essentially live, in games, during a pennant race. So you’re seeing the effects of that. You’re seeing a guy that’s slowly building his arm strength back and learning to trust it and then walking that tight rope of when to throw the thunderbolt and when to play it safe as he builds on his progression.” 

Cashman said he believes Judge has already unleashed at least one strong throw, but for an outfielder that typically averages 90 mph throws, Judge hasn’t come close since the elbow injury. 

Yankees legend Joe DiMaggio (L) in action during a game with the Cleveland Indians during the 1930s. AFP/CORBIS

And Cashman — who said Judge shouldn’t need surgery in the offseason — said he’s still confident Judge will get back to throwing at full strength before the end of the year. 

“I believe [so],” Cashman said. “But you have to be smart and you have to be careful.” 

Most importantly, according to Cashman, is that Judge’s has healed. 

“He’s healthy now,” the GM said. “But then obviously doing it correctly, so like we’d be doing a rehab program in the minor leagues where you’d stagger it. But we’re unfortunately having to do that here in the big leagues.” 

Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees celebrates his homer. Jason Szenes / New York Post

And in the middle of a playoff race. 

Judge and Giancarlo Stanton have been used in the outfield, with Stanton starting in left at Fenway Park on Friday, taking advantage of the smaller area in left thanks to the Green Monster. 

Aaron Boone said Judge could also be in left on Saturday, if he’s not back at DH. It would mark his first game in the outfield not in right all season. 

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They are trying to figure out how to get the most out of both players, with Judge homering three times in his last two games and four times in his last four, while Stanton is in the midst of a 5-for-43 rut. 

Ideally, the Yankees would play a healthy — and confident — Judge in right field every game in the postseason, with Stanton at DH. 

“You can be healthy, but you’re building your arm strength up now,” Cashman said. “You start building through those progressions over time where you get to the level of you don’t remember anymore you had an issue.” 

Aaron Judge celebrates his homer with Cody Bellinger. Jason Szenes / New York Post

Until that happens, the possibility of aggravating the injury remains. 

“There’s always going to be that concern, regardless of anybody that’s coming back from an injury,” Cashman said.