It was “good to see” Aaron Judge unleash a 90-mph throw during Game 1 of the ALDS, manager Aaron Boone said.
Judge, who is playing through a flexor strain in his right elbow, threw the ball 90.2 mph from right field to third base on Anthony Santander’s seventh-inning single in the Yankees’ 10-1 loss to the Blue Jays in Toronto on Saturday.
That was faster than Judge’s season-long average throw speed of 89.6 mph.
“I feel like it’s steadily gotten better,” Boone said Sunday before Game 2 at Rogers Centre. “I know even talking with him after having to get rid of a couple throws yesterday, he said he felt good, and that’s different than four weeks ago.”
Daulton Varsho went from first to third on Santander’s single, sliding in safely as Judge’s throw got there on hop, but even the most perfect of throws likely wouldn’t have been enough to get him out.
“Hopefully we continue to make steady improvements out there while also just being smart,” Boone said. “But I think he’s done a great job out there. But good to see. There’s been a handful he’s had to let go of a little bit, and he has.”
Judge, 33, suffered the injury in Toronto in late July. He spent 10 days on the injured list, then played exclusively at designated hitter for a month before returning to the outfield on Sept. 5.
Last week, the Boston Red Sox acknowledged that they were challenging Judge’s arm when Nick Sogard reached second base on a hustle double in Game 1 of their Wild Card series.
“That’s preparation,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said at the time. “We talk about their outfielders and what can we do or what we cannot do, and he saw it right away and took advantage of it.”
Judge’s one-hop throw that night came in at 73.2 mph, though he was much closer to the base than he was on Saturday’s throw.
“I’m trying to get it in there and make a play,” Judge said after his throw against the Red Sox. “Definitely don’t want to overthrow. But [Sogard is] quick. Got in there. Just trying to make a play.”
Since 2020, when Statcast began tracking throw speeds, Judge’s throws have averaged 90.5 mph. Judge averaged 88.1 mph in 2024, when he was the Yankees’ everyday center fielder.
Having Judge in the outfield allows the Yankees to use Giancarlo Stanton at DH, optimizing their offense and defense.
Judge, a two-time Gold Glove finalist, led the majors in batting average (.331), on-base percentage (.457), slugging percentage (.688) and OPS (1.144) in the regular season.
The reigning American League MVP remained an offensive force after the injury, as he batted .370 with 10 home runs and a 1.292 OPS in September. He entered Sunday with six hits in 15 at-bats (.400) through four playoff games.
Judge has been the Yankees’ starting right fielder in every game this postseason, including Game 2 of the ALDS on Sunday.
