Daily News 19

Tag: Aaron Judge

  • Yankees at Twins: Game 150

    Yankees at Twins: Game 150

    Twins Face Yankees in Bronx Showdown With Judge Returning From Injury

    First Pitch: 6:40 PM CT | TV: Twins.TV | Radio: TIBN/830 WCCO/102.9 The Wolf / Audacy App

    Matchup Overview

    The Minnesota Twins travel to the Bronx for a clash with the New York Yankees, a franchise that has historically tormented Minnesota. However, the current Twins roster features a youthful core largely unfamiliar with that playoff futility. The storyline shifts dramatically with the return of back-to-back MVP Aaron Judge, who rejoins the Yankees lineup after missing over four months.

    Judge Returns Without Rehab Assignment

    New York opted to activate Judge directly to the major league roster, bypassing a minor league rehab assignment. While the slugger is still rounding into form, his presence alone alters the series dynamic. The Yankees lineup remains formidable even with Giancarlo Stanton sidelined for 90% of the season and recent injured list placements for Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Trent Grisham.

    Cody Bellinger provides steady production, while Ben Rice and midseason acquisition Luis Garcia Jr. have each surpassed 30 home runs. New York also boasts an exciting rookie duo: shortstop George Lombard Jr. and center fielder Spencer Jones, whose combination of power and speed draws comparisons to Matt Wallner with added athleticism.

    Dean Kremer Seeks Consistency in Series Opener

    Right-hander Dean Kremer takes the mound for Minnesota, tasked with providing length after the bullpen-heavy effort in the previous game. Since joining the Twins, Kremer’s home run rate has normalized as anticipated, though his strikeout rate has declined while his walk rate has increased, leaving the overall results somewhat underwhelming.

    Kremer is not considered a non-tender candidate this offseason. However, with Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, and Kremer all reaching free agency after 2027, the front office led by Jeremy Zoll will likely pursue long-term rotation stability. A strong finish to the campaign would significantly improve the 2025 outlook.

    Injury Updates Cloud Twins Outlook

    • Trevor Larnach was scratched from the initial lineup after sustaining a pre-game wrist injury. He is undergoing imaging, and any missed time would end his season and potentially his tenure with the organization.
    • Kaelen Culpepper remains sidelined after being hit by a pitch on Saturday. Manager Derek Shelton expressed optimism about a potential return tomorrow.
    • Royce Lewis also remains out after departing yesterday’s game with shoulder discomfort. His absence raises questions about his future with the club.

    Starting Lineups

    Minnesota Twins

    SP: Dean Kremer

    1. Luke Keaschall, RF
    2. Brooks Lee, 3B
    3. Kody Clemens, 2B
    4. Ryan Jeffers, C
    5. Josh Bell, DH
    6. Emmanuel Rodriguez, LF
    7. Victor Caratini, 1B
    8. Ryan Kreidler, SS
    9. Walker Jenkins, CF

    New York Yankees

    SP: Will Warren

    1. Ben Rice, DH
    2. Cody Bellinger, LF
    3. Aaron Judge, RF
    4. Luis Garcia Jr., 1B
    5. Spencer Jones, CF
    6. George Lombard Jr., SS
    7. Ryan McMahon, 3B
    8. Austin Wells, C
    9. Jose Caballero, 2B
  • Aaron Judge Returns, Reviving Yankees’ 2026 World Series Hopes

    Aaron Judge Returns, Reviving Yankees’ 2026 World Series Hopes

    For a franchise that measures success in championships, 17 years is an eternity. The New York Yankees have not won a World Series since 2009, a drought that would be insignificant for most organizations but feels massive for a club that owns 27 championships. Every season since has ended with the same question lingering over the Bronx: Is this finally the year?

    As the 2026 regular season enters its final stretch, the answer remains uncertain. But for the first time in months, the Yankees have regained the one player who could make that dream a reality.

    Aaron Judge Returns to Yankees Lineup

    The Yankees captain was reinstated from the 60-day injured list on Monday and is expected to return to the lineup for Tuesday’s series opener against the Colorado Rockies. It marks the end of a frustrating absence that began when a right rib stress fracture sidelined him on May 31.

    For Judge, the return is arriving later than he ever wanted.

    “I wanted to be back June 1, but that didn’t happen,” Aaron recently said.

    Impact of Judge’s Absence on Yankees Season

    His absence fundamentally changed the Yankees’ season. When Judge last appeared in a game, New York owned a 36-23 record and looked like one of the American League’s strongest contenders. Without him, the club went 45-39, remaining competitive but losing much of the offensive firepower that makes it a legitimate championship threat.

    Manager Aaron Boone didn’t hide the impact of losing the three-time American League MVP.

    “We’ve had long stretches where the offense has struggled. I think a big part of that is not having your guy,” Boone said.

    The numbers support that assessment. While the Yankees managed to stay in the playoff picture, they looked far less dangerous without the most feared hitter in baseball anchoring the middle of the lineup.

    That reality makes Judge’s return about far more than a September boost. It may determine whether the Yankees are merely a playoff team or a true World Series contender.

    AL East Race and Wild Card Implications

    As things stand, the Yankees are firmly in the American League playoff race. Entering Judge’s return, New York trails the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays by four games while holding a narrow lead over the Boston Red Sox in the Wild Card standings. That means the Yankees are still fighting on two fronts: chasing an AL East title while also trying to secure the best possible Wild Card position.

    If New York fails to catch Tampa Bay, a postseason showdown with Boston remains one possible outcome. The two rivals are currently separated by only a few games in the standings, making a Yankees-Red Sox Wild Card series a realistic scenario as October approaches.

    However, playoff seeding remains far from settled with several weeks left in the regular season.

    Judge’s MVP-Caliber Production and Defensive Return

    That’s where Judge becomes indispensable. Before the injury, he was once again performing at an MVP level. His combination of power, patience and leadership makes him the engine of New York’s offense.

    Opposing pitchers alter their entire game plan because of his presence. Teammates receive better pitches to hit. The lineup becomes deeper and more dangerous from top to bottom.

    The Yankees also expect Judge to return as their everyday right fielder rather than serving exclusively as a designated hitter. Throughout August, he steadily increased his workload, progressing from batting-practice sessions to live pitching, running bases and outfield drills. Boone has suggested the club may initially limit his innings to help rebuild stamina, but the expectation is that Judge will quickly resume a major role.

  • Two Very Different ‘Judges’ Dominate Headlines: Aaron Judge’s Gala Night and Erika Jayne’s Court Warning

    Two Very Different ‘Judges’ Dominate Headlines: Aaron Judge’s Gala Night and Erika Jayne’s Court Warning

    The name "Judge" appeared in entertainment headlines for two unrelated reasons this week, creating an accidental double feature that says a lot about where celebrity attention sits right now. On one coast, a baseball superstar cleaned up for charity. On the other, a reality-TV veteran got a blunt deadline from the bench. Read also: Two Bands, Two Eras: What Blackpink's Global Coronation and Westside Cowboy's Analog Rebellion Reveal About Music Stardom Today. Read also: Entertainment Roundup: Bong Joon Ho's 'Mickey 17' Sets 2024 Release, 'Only Murders in the Building' Heads to London for Season 6.

    New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge and his wife, Samantha Bracksieck, attended the Carlos Rodón Foundation Willow Gala at the Refinery in Brooklyn on August 24. The event, hosted by Judge's teammate, raised money for the pitcher's charitable foundation. Photos from the evening show the couple in formal wear on a night that also brought out Topher Grace, Christie Brinkley, Glen Powell, and a cluster of other names across multiple benefit events in New York and Los Angeles. For Judge, the appearance continues a pattern of high-profile philanthropic outings during the 2026 season, reinforcing his off-field visibility as the face of the franchise.

    Three thousand miles away in a Los Angeles courtroom, the word "judge" carried weight of a different kind. The jurist overseeing Erika Jayne's long-running divorce from Tom Girardi ordered both parties to appear early next year and explain why the case has stalled since their 2020 split. Court documents obtained by TMZ show the judge warned that if the explanation isn't convincing, the case will be dismissed without a final judgment — effectively hitting the reset button on years of litigation. The backdrop is extraordinary: Girardi, once a prominent plaintiffs' attorney, was sentenced in 2025 to 87 months in federal prison for stealing settlement funds from his own clients. Jayne has denied knowledge of his misconduct but has been pulled into related lawsuits, including an $18 million claim from a fashion designer over credit-card charges and a $25 million suit that settled before trial.

    The coincidence underscores how celebrity coverage now toggles between polished red-carpet moments and raw legal fallout — sometimes in the same news cycle, sometimes under the same search term. Aaron Judge's gala night is the kind of controlled, brand-friendly visibility that teams and sponsors cultivate. Erika Jayne's court date is the opposite: a public, messy, court-supervised accounting that no publicist would script. Both are real, both are documented, and both landed under "judge" in the last 48 hours.

  • Aaron Judge to Join Yankees for West Coast Trip

    Aaron Judge to Join Yankees for West Coast Trip

    NEW YORK — Yankees captain Aaron Judge is joining the team for its six-game West Coast road trip, another significant step toward his return to the Major League lineup in September.

    Judge will travel with the Yankees for series against the Los Angeles Angels and San Diego Padres. The Southern California trip could allow him to expand his baseball activities, including potentially taking batting practice on the field.

    “I’m sure it will be ramped up and a lot more involved,” manager Aaron Boone said before Sunday’s series finale against the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. “Hopefully out there, [Judge will] start to get on velocity and things like that. He’ll be part of the pregame stuff and just get more entrenched into getting ready to come back.”

    When could Aaron Judge return?

    The Yankees have not provided a firm timeline for Judge’s return from a right rib fracture. He is unlikely to be activated during the West Coast trip, but a return during New York’s next homestand remains possible.

    The Yankees will host the Colorado Rockies from Sept. 8-10 before facing the New York Mets from Sept. 11-13.

    “I feel like if I tell them I’m ready to go play, I think we’re ready to go play,” Judge said earlier this week.

    “I’m not a pitcher, I’m a position player. I can get my reps down here in the cage, and I’ve been at every game. I’ve been sitting there in the dugout watching every game, feeling the environment, feeling the energy. I don’t think there’s going to be much of a fight.”

    Judge increases baseball activities

    Judge suffered the rib fracture during a diving defensive attempt on April 26 in Houston. His most recent Major League appearance came on May 31.

    He has not yet faced high-velocity pitching, but his workload has steadily increased. His recovery has progressed from pool work and outdoor running to tee-and-toss drills in mid-August.

    More recently, Judge has taken overhand batting practice indoors, thrown from distances of up to 100 feet and shagged fly balls.

    Judge said he could increase his hitting volume through a combination of Trajekt, machine work and sessions against pitchers who are also rehabbing. He added that regaining his timing should be “like riding a bike.”

    “The toughest thing has been sitting out,” Judge said. “We’re healing up. Now it’s about getting the volume and getting the reps in.”

  • Aaron Judge Hits First Home Run Since Returning from Injured List

    Aaron Judge Hits First Home Run Since Returning from Injured List

    MINNEAPOLIS — Aaron Judge ended his home run drought in emphatic fashion Monday night, launching a three-run blast in the eighth inning to power the New York Yankees to an 8-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.

    Judge Breaks Through After IL Return

    The long ball marked Judge’s first home run since returning from the injured list on Sept. 8. The Yankees captain had missed three months while recovering from a stress fracture in his right ribcage. In six games and 21 at-bats since his activation, Judge entered Monday’s contest hitting just .176 (3-for-17) with nine strikeouts and a walk.

    Vintage Power Display Against Minter

    The breakthrough came against Braves reliever A.J. Minter. After starting the night 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a double-play grounder, Judge turned on a 2-2 cutter and deposited it deep into the second deck. The three-run shot extended New York’s lead to 7-2 and showcased the classic Judge power profile.

    According to Statcast data, the home run carried 397 feet with a 36-degree launch angle — a textbook moonshot that left the bat at elite exit velocity.

    Yankees Offense Supports Strong Outing

    The win improves New York’s position as they navigate the final stretch of the regular season. Judge’s return to form provides a significant boost for a lineup that has awaited his full integration back into the heart of the order.