After breaking the American League single season home run record, securing a massive nine-year contract in free agency and being named Captain of the New York Yankees in the offseason, there was a lot of anticipation for Aaron Judge's first at-bat of the 2023 MLB season on Opening Day. Thankfully for the Yankees and their fans, Judge decided to pick up right where he left off, taking San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb out to deep center field at Yankee Stadium in his first at-bat of the season.
Aaron Judge Goes Deep in First At-Bat
Somebody call @FDNY ? pic.twitter.com/5uPqKhFAQc
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 30, 2023
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While the Mets are spending MLB Opening Day in Miami, the Yanks began their season at home with Gerrit Cole taking the mound. After a solid first inning from Cole, the AL MVP and All-Star decided that maybe the American League Record of 62 home runs was too few. Perhaps it was time to set a new Major League Baseball home run record in 2023.
As the Bronx faithful watched Judge's first home run of the season, asking the crowd to "All Rise" in the first game of the season, it's clear the Yankees slugger is going for more than re-breaking Roger Maris' 61 home run mark, as he did last season.
Photo by Cooper Neill/MLB Photos via Getty Images
Sure, racking up home runs are great and better than strikeouts, the Yankees Captain is focused on getting the Yankees into the playoffs and advancing to the World Series. While battling teams like the Toronto Blue Jays, Oakland Athletics, Tampa Bay Rays and Houston Astros, the Yankees are hoping their star can help them reach the mountaintop and return the Yankees to the top of the MLB rankings. So far, the Yankees look to be trending in the right direction, unlike the Mets, who just put Justin Verlander on the IL.
Last year, Judge proved to the world that he has more pop in his bat than the entire San Diego Padres, but 2023 is all about getting the ring after Judge secured the record and the bag.
