Yankees captain Judge finished the April finale with a best 0.427 batting average +10 in MLB

If there were a higher-level baseball league, Aaron Judge would be one of them.

The Yankees captain capped off a rocky April on Wednesday night, hitting 3 RBIs and a home run in a single game, but stopped in the preparation zone before the team's 4-5 loss to the Orioles.

"Every time you get into the strike zone, there's a mission," said Judge (who leads the major leagues with a 0.427 batting average and 10 hits), "and you have to block out the past and focus on the present." I'll save that for the end of the season. "

Back at this time last year (May 2, 2024 to be exact), Judge faced media questions about his 0.197 batting percentage on the carpet of the away team's lounge. At that time, he confidently predicted: "A little adjustment, about to rebound." "

The prophecy came true. After fine-tuning his position, Judge won the second American League MVP with a batting average of 0.322, 58 hits and 144 RBIs, and extended his hot form into the 2025 season.

"You need to play with confidence at all times," said Judge, "and it was the same at 0.170 last year. You ask 'when will it bounce back', but I have to focus on the process rather than the result. Insist on 500 seats, and beauty will come. "

Delivering on the promise of a "fast hot" spring, Judge tied with sailor Cal Raleigh and Rattlesnake Eugenio Suárez as the only three-digit home run runner in April. (Had it not been for the miscalculation of the April 20 away game in Tampa, Judge would have reached this milestone much earlier.) ）

Against left-handed Cade Povich, Judge blasted a Statcast-measured 426-foot midfield cannon (112.1mph) in one of his favorite striking environments for the second straight hit. It was also the 15th first-inning home run of the season (the only one in the league) and extended his streak to 27 (the fourth-longest career since April 2).

"He's a three-point shooter who shoots 40 percent for a long time," said head coach Aaron Boone, "We're running out of words — he's just playing a different game." "

The hit continued Judge's dominance over the Orioles' pitcher: 47 hits to birdies was the most against a single team, and 26 home runs against Camden Square away home runs trailed behind A-Rod (34) and David Ortiz (30).

"This guy is unbelievable," said Carlos Carrasco, who swallowed the losing shot (conceded four points in 3.1 innings), "and you've all seen his destructive power." "

All four of the Oriole's scores came in the second set, with Ryan Mountcastle and Ramón Urías blasting back-to-back. Paul Goldschmidt hit his second run of the season in five innings, helping the Yankees set a new franchise record of 53 hits before May.

Judge's left-wing hit across the infield in the seventh inning trailed a one-point gap, but finisher Félix Bautista gave the Yankees three up and three in the ninth inning, depriving him of a goodbye shot. "When the likes of Goldschmidt and Trent Grisham are on the rise, I always expect a miracle," Judge said, "but I will always trust them in the critical situations." "