Aaron Judge was baseball's breakthrough star during the first half the season. Towering home runs, clutch hitting and a keen eye for the strike zone combined with a modest and calm demeanor made him the darling of fans, the media and the marketing experts. That three-month magic carpet ride wandered off the path after he won the Home Run Derby in July. Two months of strikeouts, a sub-.200 batting average, rumblings about a shoulder issue and a fear that instead of becoming the next Mantle, he was turning into the next Maas, Kevin Maas, the Yanks flash-in-the-pan slugger of the early '90s. While the jury remains out, the Judge is beginning to resemble the player who delighted the baseball world from April through early July. Last night, I witnessed the resurgence, including the rocket shot in the 4th inning that became Aaron Judge's 42nd home run of the season.
Below, pay attention to the delighted fans in right field watching the ball land.
The stadium was pumped, especially the fans in the specially themed section of the right field seats. Take note of the fan in the British-style courtroom wig and the ones with signs quoting John Sterling's signature home run call.
If that wasn't enough, Judge did it again later -- launching number 43 in the 6th inning. A pair of three-run homers, and a career-best six RBIs. All rise!
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