MAJOR-BOOST; Yankees’ Spring Training Takes a Shocking Turn: Aaron Judge’s First HR Sends Shockwaves — Is He the Yankees’ New Tungsten Arm O’Doyle?

The New York Yankees are eager to move past last season, despite making it to the World Series. They lost Juan Soto to the New York Mets in free agency, but managed to sign Max Fried, Cody Bellinger, Paul Goldschmidt, and Devin Williams to fill crucial gaps on the roster.

However, the team has faced several setbacks this spring. Gerrit Cole will require Tommy John surgery, Giancarlo Stanton is dealing with an uncertain recovery timeline after tearing tendons in both elbows, Luis Gil is sidelined with a lat injury, and D.J. LeMahieu is out with a calf injury.

Despite these injuries, the Yankees remain strong contenders for the World Series, partly because of a relatively weak American League. As long as Aaron Judge stays healthy, they still have a shot, right?

On Saturday, Judge hit his first home run of spring training, a shot that soared over the left field fence and into the parking lot at George M. Steinbrenner Field. The two-run blast extended the Yankees’ lead to 3-0. Normally, this would give the Yankees a strong edge in the game, but that wasn’t the case on Saturday. Instead, Judge had his own “Tungsten Arm O’Doyle” moment.

Aaron Judge

In the fourth inning, the Yankees extended their lead to 7-0, thanks to a sacrifice fly from Judge, RBI singles by Jasson Dominguez and J.C. Escarra, and Dominguez crossing the plate after Goldschmidt walked with the bases loaded. It seemed like a comfortable lead—until the top of the ninth inning.

The Phillies exploded for eight unanswered runs, with Eric Reyzelman struggling on the mound. Reyzelman walked Elio Prado to bring in one run, then gave up a two-run double to Luis Verdugo. After Reyzelman was pulled, Felix Reyes reached on a fielding error, and Marcus Lee Snag hit an RBI double. Reliever Leonardo Pestana didn’t fare much better, giving up a three-run homer to Robert Moore, allowing the Phillies to take an 8-7 lead.

Though it’s just a spring training game and doesn’t count, the Yankees’ collapse in the ninth inning overshadowed Judge’s home run, leaving a bit of a sour taste for the team despite the individual accomplishment.