If the Yankees have proven anything in recent seasons, it’s that they can withstand every setback imaginable — except a long-term injury to Aaron Judge.
It was the toe injury Judge suffered at Dodger Stadium that derailed their 2023 season and caused them to miss the playoffs and last year, when there was concern the flexor strain in his right elbow might be especially serious, the second half of the season was in doubt.
So when Judge got drilled on the right forearm — near his wrist — with a 98 mph four-seam fastball from Miami’s Eury Pérez with the bases loaded in the bottom of the second, the initial worry was high.
“I’ve broken my wrist like that,’’ Judge said after an 8-2 home-opening win over the Marlins in The Bronx. “That’s always my main concern. Once everything is intact, get to first and let [Cody Bellinger] do his job.”
Aaron Boone, not surprisingly, bolted off the bench before he realized Judge wasn’t hurt.
Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) tosses his bat after he hits a solo home run during the first inning on April 3, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
“I felt he was probably OK, but I tend to jump up quicker when it’s him,” Boone said. “You always hold your breath anytime one runs up and in like that.”
Judge did shake off the drilling and it was part of another superb day for the Yankees, who improved to 6-1.
It started with the Yankees showing up dressed in suits, as Ben Rice noted that Judge texted the team on Thursday to arrive in their best attire.
Dressed for success, the team delivered — including Judge.
He entered the game just 3-for-24 with 11 strikeouts on the season, but went deep in his first at-bat in The Bronx, taking Pérez deep to left field for a two-run shot after the Marlins scored a run in the top of the inning.
He drove in another run the hard way in the second, as the hit by pitch forced in José Caballero to make it 4-1.
And Judge — 2-for-3 with three RBIs on the day — walked and singled later in the game.
Judge rounds the bases on his homer. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
“We’re finding different ways to score runs,’’ Judge said.
They’ve also found different ways to win games without arguably the best hitter in the sport finding his groove.
Two of his three hits on the West Coast trip were home runs and Judge has shown that he can overcome even the slowest of starts to a season.
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Both his first-inning homer and his base hit in the eighth clocked in at over 100 mph according to Statcast. It was the first time in the young season Judge cracked triple digits twice in a game.
So while Ben Rice and Giancarlo Stanton have largely carried the Yankees’ offense in the early going, Judge will no doubt do the same for the lineup, and it may have started Friday.