Aaron Judge is expected to play a pivotal role for the New York Yankees in the upcoming season, especially with several key players sidelined due to injuries. The silver lining, however, is that he will have some ‘help’ in the batting order from a teammate hitting .465 during spring training.
According to Jon Heyman, the player batting behind Judge in the order will be Cody Bellinger, occupying the No. 3 spot. This decision is largely a result of Bellinger’s impressive spring training performance, which included a .465 batting average and a 1.301 OPS.
This marks Bellinger’s debut season with the Yankees. Prior to joining New York, he posted two solid seasons with the Cubs, logging over 550 plate appearances in both 2023 and 2024, with a combined 44 home runs.
On the other hand, Judge showed little of his trademark power during the MLB spring training, but it wasn’t necessary for him to prove anything at the plate. He managed only a .115 average and a .435 OPS, as most fans were more interested in seeing him adjust to his new outfield position.
Cody Bellinger #35 of the New York Yankees poses for a portrait during the New York Yankees Photo Day at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 18, 2025 in Tampa, Florida.
Cody Bellinger’s Spring Training Highlights
As the Yankees’ newest addition, Cody Bellinger needed to prove he was in good shape, and he certainly delivered. Over 16 spring games, he stepped up with 47 plate appearances, contributing three home runs, 20 hits, and 13 runs. He struck out just six times and drew four walks, making a strong case for his place in the lineup.
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Yankees Adjust Without Stanton’s Power
The Yankees’ lineup looks solid, but adjustments are ongoing to minimize the impact of Giancarlo Stanton’s absence in the early games of the 2025 season as he recovers. Last year, Stanton logged 459 plate appearances and hit 27 home runs. Although it was his second straight season with fewer than 30 home runs, he was still instrumental in securing key victories for the team.
