Cody Bellinger gets it.
He knows why opponents have intentionally walked — and can proceed intentionally walking — Aaron Judge in certain spots, even with Judge encountering a rough patch the past two weeks.
“Comprehensible,” Bellinger said. “I mean, he’s the very best hitter on the planet.”
The A’s opted for a similar strategy within the third inning Friday with Anthony Volpe on second and first base open, selecting to face the 2019 National League MVP as an alternative of the 2022 and 2024 American League winner — who’s also a transparent favorite for the award again this yr — in the midst of a historic season.
And three pitches later, Bellinger delivered again, driving in Volpe with a single to present the Yankees a two-run lead and improving to 3-for-9 with 4 RBIs in 12 plate appearances following Judge intentional walks.
“It’s [the] product of a superb hitter that’s been around, been there and done that and doesn’t get overwhelmed or over-amped,” manager Aaron Boone said after the Yankees’ 3-0 win to open a series in The Bronx. “Sometimes, you would like to show so bad in those situations. That may get you into some trouble. He seems to administer that basically well.”
Bellinger, who added one other single within the eighth to cap a 2-for-4 night, has produced three singles and a sacrifice fly in those settings this yr, and collectively the Yankees have gone 6-for-15 after Judge’s MLB-high 18 intentional walks in 2025.
Jazz Chisholm Jr., who said he thinks those situations provide “a whole lot of added motivation,” has gone 2-for-4 with a homer and a single, while Ben Rice produced an RBI double in certainly one of his two probabilities.
Those walks will only proceed over the ultimate half of the regular season given Judge’s .358 average, 28 homers and 63 RBIs.
Judge stays heading in the right direction to shatter the career-high 21 intentional walks he received between the regular season and playoffs last yr.
To date, though, the Yankees have continued to convert in those scenarios.
They’ve strung together run-scoring hits in those spots.
Bellinger’s single — which continued his in-season turnaround following a slow start, along with his average dipping beneath .200 in early May — marked just the most recent.
“Especially for me, it’s like, feel like that’s really disrespectful to walk someone in front of me — with Cody, especially the profession that he’s had, to walk someone in front of him,” Chisholm said. “I realize it’s Judge, but still.”
Cody Bellinger gets it.
He knows why opponents have intentionally walked — and can proceed intentionally walking — Aaron Judge in certain spots, even with Judge encountering a rough patch the past two weeks.
“Comprehensible,” Bellinger said. “I mean, he’s the very best hitter on the planet.”
The A’s opted for a similar strategy within the third inning Friday with Anthony Volpe on second and first base open, selecting to face the 2019 National League MVP as an alternative of the 2022 and 2024 American League winner — who’s also a transparent favorite for the award again this yr — in the midst of a historic season.
And three pitches later, Bellinger delivered again, driving in Volpe with a single to present the Yankees a two-run lead and improving to 3-for-9 with 4 RBIs in 12 plate appearances following Judge intentional walks.
“It’s [the] product of a superb hitter that’s been around, been there and done that and doesn’t get overwhelmed or over-amped,” manager Aaron Boone said after the Yankees’ 3-0 win to open a series in The Bronx. “Sometimes, you would like to show so bad in those situations. That may get you into some trouble. He seems to administer that basically well.”
Bellinger, who added one other single within the eighth to cap a 2-for-4 night, has produced three singles and a sacrifice fly in those settings this yr, and collectively the Yankees have gone 6-for-15 after Judge’s MLB-high 18 intentional walks in 2025.
Jazz Chisholm Jr., who said he thinks those situations provide “a whole lot of added motivation,” has gone 2-for-4 with a homer and a single, while Ben Rice produced an RBI double in certainly one of his two probabilities.
Those walks will only proceed over the ultimate half of the regular season given Judge’s .358 average, 28 homers and 63 RBIs.
Judge stays heading in the right direction to shatter the career-high 21 intentional walks he received between the regular season and playoffs last yr.
To date, though, the Yankees have continued to convert in those scenarios.
They’ve strung together run-scoring hits in those spots.
Bellinger’s single — which continued his in-season turnaround following a slow start, along with his average dipping beneath .200 in early May — marked just the most recent.
“Especially for me, it’s like, feel like that’s really disrespectful to walk someone in front of me — with Cody, especially the profession that he’s had, to walk someone in front of him,” Chisholm said. “I realize it’s Judge, but still.”
