New York has been in a different type of zone recently
As the New York Yankees (42-19) continue to roll past the competition, their players are now getting individual honors for their prowess. One of them is outfielder Aaron Judge, who's coming off a dream series against his hometown club San Francisco Giants.
Fellow outfielder Juan Soto has been named AL Player of the Week, Judge is the AL Hitter of the Month, and right-handed hurler Luis Gil is the AL Pitcher and Rookie of the Month, via Jomboy Media. This is the first time two teammates have won the pitcher and hitter awards in the same month since Gerrit Cole and Yuli Gurriel for the Houston Astros in 2019.
Over six games the past week, Soto went 10-for-23 (.435) with two triples, three homers, four walks, and a hefty 1.500 OPS. The slugger hit two long balls in Sunday's matchup with the Giants, including a two-run shot in the ninth inning to give the Yankees a 6-5 lead that they never relinquished.
Meanwhile, Gil has been a revelation as New York awaits the return of ace pitcher Gerrit Cole. Gil recorded a 6-0 record in May, with a 0.70 ERA and 0.67 WHIP across 38.2 innings. The Dominican international led the league in wins, WHIP, and opponents' batting average (.109), ranking second in ERA and innings. He also ranked third in strikeouts (44).
Lastly, Judge showed why he's playing on one of the most expensive deals in league history. The five-time all-star slashed .371/.488/.928 with 14 homers in May, after hitting .174 through April 22nd. It's safe to say he's not washed up after all, as he now leads the league with 21 home runs and a 1.075 OPS.
Will New York keep this up or break down as the season wears on?
The Yankees present promising depth that could lead them to October glory
Judge also hit a monster blast on Saturday's 7-3 win over the Giants, clobbering a 464-foot moonshot in the direction of the giant glove behind the left field bleachers in Oracle Park. Nobody has ever hit a ball far enough to reach the glove, but Judge's dinger was probably the closest in quite some time, via The New York Post's Greg Joyce.
“It’s deep out there,” Judge said. “I was just happy it went over the fence and we were able to get up two runs.”
The 32-year-old hasn't slowed down since his red-hot stretch in May. However, plenty of other Yankees are responsible for their leading record as well.
One of them is fellow slugger Giancarlo Stanton, who's clocked in 14 homers and 32 RBI. The former Miami Marlin has been a vital presence in the lineup, protecting Judge and Soto.
Additionally, shortstop Anthony Volpe has been a consistent contact hitter, as he's recently coming off a 21-game hitting streak. The 23-year-0ld is slashing .284/.352/.440, with six homers and 25 RBI.
Lastly, the pitching staff sits atop the MLB with a stingy 2.78 ERA. Once Cole comes back, it could be a scary sight for opposing hitters.
While none of this guarantees anything in October, the team is unlikely to crumble from one or two injuries, which bodes well for its prospects over the long season.
