In a tense moment during Saturday’s game between the New York Yankees and the New York Mets, Aaron Judge narrowly avoided a potentially serious injury. During the fifth inning, Anthony Volpe unintentionally threw the ball toward Judge while he was distracted, resulting in a close call as the baseball struck him near his right eye. Fortunately, Judge was able to remain in the game after receiving medical attention and sported a bandage afterward, suggesting it could have been much worse had the ball made contact just a couple of inches differently.
Volpe did redeem himself later in the game, hitting his 10th home run of the season, but the Yankees ultimately fell to the Mets with a score of 12-6. This latest defeat marks the Yankees’ sixth consecutive loss, putting them three games behind the Toronto Blue Jays, who were responsible for four of those losses earlier in the week.
It’s been a challenging season for Volpe, who currently has a batting average of .222 with a .300 on-base percentage. His offensive performance has placed him near the bottom of the rankings among American League shortstops in terms of wRC+, a stat that evaluates a player’s offensive contributions relative to others in their position.
In contrast, Judge continues to shine, boasting an impressive .361 batting average along with 32 home runs this season. He remains a frontrunner for the American League MVP award, showcasing his consistent excellence on the field.
Despite the Yankees’ struggles, there are bright spots such as Judge’s outstanding season and Volpe’s potential for growth as he adapts to the challenges of major league play. The team will need to regroup and find a way to reverse their fortunes as the season progresses. Hope remains that they can turn their performance around and build momentum moving forward.