Aaron Judges moonshot quells any rust concerns…
MINNEAPOLIS — There is a distinction between Aaron Boone saying he appreciated how Aaron Judge seemed in his first week back from a three-month keep on the injured record, and Judge truly going out and crushing a majestic shot.
But the captain delivered on Boone’s optimism Monday evening, trying like his outdated self by clobbering a three-run shot to the third deck in left subject as the Yankees beat the Twins 8-3 at Target Field while clinching their playoff berth.
New York Yankees proper fielder Aaron Judge is greeted by teammates in the dugout after scoring on a three-run home run during the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg for New York Post
“It feels like Judge is back,” José Caballero said.
Somehow, the tape-measure shot was only estimated at 397 toes, but it felt as if it alleviated some of the concerns about Judge’s timing after he entered the at-bat 3-for-20 with one stroll and 11 strikeouts in his first five-plus video games back.
New York Yankees proper fielder Aaron Judge holds a champagne bottle in the locker room on Monday, September 14, 2026, at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Yankees clinched a spot in the playoffs. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
New York Yankees proper fielder Aaron Judge (99) celebrates in the clubhouse with teammates after defeating the Minnesota Twins to clinch a playoff berth at Target Field on Monday, September 14, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg for New York Post
“It felt good — just like the other swings, at least I made contact that time, so it’s a little better than the other ones,” said Judge, who had grounded into a double play and struck out twice in his first three at-bats Monday. “But just trying to get better every single day. I know the ultimate goal is to be ready for the postseason, but there’s some important games the next couple weeks that I got to be ready to go. So I’m just happy I could help the team tonight.”
His teammates have been more effusive about the promise that the swing provided.
“Oh my goodness, that was quite a shot,” Ben Rice said. “What a swing. You could really get used to seeing that, especially this time of year.”
Rice appeared to help Judge know what was coming from Twins lefty A.J. Minter, waving his palms the pitch before on a changeup but not on the inside cutter that Judge finally clobbered for his first home run since May 24.
As a lot help as the Yankees hope to have around Judge as they head toward the postseason, their hopes and desires heart on the back-to-back AL MVP and what he can do in the batter’s box even after lacking a large chunk of the common season and coming back without going on a rehab task.
“I’ve been pleased,” Boone said. “I haven’t been the least bit concerned about anything. … He’s not all the way where he’s going to get to, but he’s got 20-plus at-bats now, which I think is valuable. We still got a couple weeks now to go and he’s only going to get hopefully more sharp as we head to the finish line.”
As of Monday afternoon, Boone’s pondering was that he would give Judge Wednesday’s sequence finale off into Thursday’s staff off-day, and then have him “pretty much” a full go for the ultimate three sequence of the common season.
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