The excitement surrounding MLB Opening Day was palpable in the stands, as multiple matchups kicked off the first part of the season on Thursday. Among the teams getting their season underway were the New York Yankees, who hosted the Milwaukee Brewers at Yankee Stadium, with Aaron Judge playing a key role.
The Yankees were undeniably one of the teams that made significant moves during the offseason, adding stars like Max Fried, Cody Bellinger, and Paul Goldschmidt, who all made their debuts with the team at home. But it wasn’t just the big names that stood out on Opening Day.
Austin Wells and Anthony Volpe set the tone for the season, each hitting a home run to give the Yankees an early lead over the Brewers. However, it was Judge who stole the spotlight with a standout defensive play.
In the first inning, a well-hit ball from the Brewers seemed destined for extra bases until Judge made a smooth catch to record the first out of the season. After making the play, he tossed the ball to a young fan in the stands, adding a memorable moment for the crowd during the season opener.
Judge’s expectations for the upcoming season
Despite concerns over the challenging injuries to some of his teammates during spring training, including Gerrit Cole, Judge remains confident in the team’s ability to perform this season. He believes that the emergence of young players will be crucial to their success.
“You miss Gerrit Cole, one of the best pitchers in the game… Luis Gil, who emerged as probably our second-best starter last season… and Big G (Giancarlo Stanton) not being in there,” Judge said.
Judge’s thoughts on the impact of young players
With the New York Yankees aiming for a World Series title after falling short to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Judge will play a pivotal role in the team’s success. However, he knows he can’t do it alone. The contributions of the younger players will be vital to the team’s chances this year.
“You can’t replace a Cole. You can’t replace a Luis Gil. But I think we’ve got some young guys who are going to step up. We’ve still got a good ballclub here,” Judge added.