ESPN News Services
Aaron Judge returned to the New York Yankees’ lineup Thursday against the Baltimore Orioles and hit his major-league-leading 27th home run of the season.
Judge, playing two days after being hit on the left hand by a pitch, hit a two-run homer in the third inning that went 395 feet to right center off Orioles starter Cole Irvin.
“Kind of went through his treatment today and then went down and hit in the cage and then just kind of came by my office and gave it a thumbs up,” manager Aaron Boone said before the Yankees concluded a three-game series with the Orioles. “So here we go.”
Judge sat out Wednesday as the Yankees lost 7-6 in 10 innings.
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Judge was struck by a 94.1 mph fastball from Baltimore starter Albert Suarez during New York’s 4-2 win Tuesday night. The slugger left the game an inning later. X-rays and a CT scan were negative, though Boone said Judge had some swelling and discomfort.
“I think it’s definitely a good feeling,” Boone said. “Obviously the caliber of player he is, but the captain in that room too. So guys rally around him.”
Judge, 32, entered Thursday batting .302 with 64 RBIs. The outfielder is a five-time All-Star and was the 2022 American League MVP after hitting 62 home runs to break the AL record of 61 by Roger Maris set in 1961.
In 2018, Judge missed 45 games with a broken right wrist after he was hit by a 93.4 mph pitch from Kansas City’s Jakob Junis
The Associated Press contributed to this report.