In a streak of unfortunate events for the New York Yankees, Saturday’s game against the New York Mets took a surprising turn when Yankees captain Aaron Judge was accidentally struck in the face by a tossed baseball from teammate Anthony Volpe. The incident occurred at Citi Field after the fifth inning, adding to the team’s woes during a challenging stretch of the season.
As the Mets wrapped up their half of the fifth inning with Mark Vientos lining out to Yankees second baseman Oswald Peraza, the Yankees players began their usual ritual of tossing the ball around as they headed back to the dugout. Volpe, the Yankees’ shortstop, took the ball and made a high, arcing throw toward Judge, who was jogging in from right field. Unfortunately, Judge appeared to be looking away and didn’t see the ball coming, resulting in it hitting him on the right side of his face near his eye and knocking off his sunglasses.
The impact left Judge with a small cut near his right eye, which was quickly attended to by the Yankees’ medical staff. Despite the incident, Judge remained in the game, sporting a bandage close to his right eye, and continued to take his position on the field. After the game, Judge confirmed he was fine, downplaying the severity of the hit. “Good,” was his clipped response when asked about his condition, though he was unsure whether the cut was caused by the baseball or the sunglasses.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone expressed his initial concern following the incident. “Yeah, I mean, confusion. I didn’t know what happened initially. I just saw kind of a, what felt like something happened,” Boone told reporters. “So yeah, of course I was concerned. Had a little cut. In the end I don’t think anything too serious, obviously. But yeah, initially, obviously very concerned.” Boone’s reaction reflected the general unease surrounding the incident, especially given Judge’s importance to the team.
Volpe, who has had an up-and-down season, was quick to redeem himself at the plate. In his next at-bat, he crushed his 10th home run of the season, cutting the Yankees’ deficit to just two runs. However, the Mets responded strongly, adding five more runs to secure a convincing 12-6 victory and clinch the series. This loss marked the Yankees’ sixth consecutive defeat, matching their season worst and deepening their struggles.
The Yankees’ recent form has been troubling, with four of those six losses coming at the hands of the Toronto Blue Jays earlier in the week. The team now finds itself three games behind the Blue Jays in the standings, a gap that could prove difficult to close as the season progresses. The current six-game losing streak is particularly notable as it is the second such streak the Yankees have endured this year, the first being from June 13 to June 18. This marks the first time since 2000 that the Yankees have suffered two six-game losing streaks in a single season.
Anthony Volpe’s offensive numbers have been modest this season. He is currently slashing .222/.300/.403 and ranks seventh out of eight American League shortstops in weighted runs created plus (wRC+), a metric that adjusts for park effects and measures offensive contributions. Despite his struggles at the plate, Volpe’s defensive presence remains valuable, and his recent home run offered a glimpse of his potential impact.
On the other hand, Aaron Judge continues to shine as one of the league’s premier players. With a slash line of .361/.471/.731 and 32 home runs, Judge remains a strong favorite to claim his third Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. His leadership on the field is crucial for the Yankees, especially during tough stretches like this. Judge acknowledged the team’s difficulties but remained optimistic. “Just got to play better,” he said. “That’s what it comes down to. Just fundamentals. Making the routine play routine. It’s just the little things. That’s what it kind of comes down to — but every good team goes through a couple bumps in the road. We’ll clean some things up. We know what we need to do. We’ll take care of business.”
The game itself saw Judge go hitless in his first two at-bats before the incident, followed by two groundouts and a walk. The Mets took an early lead and maintained their momentum throughout, ultimately overpowering the Yankees’ offense. The Yankees’ defense and execution faltered at critical moments, contributing to the lopsided final score.
The incident involving Judge and Volpe serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictability of baseball, where even routine moments can take unexpected turns. While the injury was minor, it added to the Yankees’ frustrations in an already difficult week. Manager Boone described the week as “terrible,” reflecting the team’s current struggles on both sides of the ball.
Looking ahead, the Yankees will need to regroup quickly to halt their slide and regain their footing in the playoff race. With key players like Judge continuing to perform at an elite level, the potential for a turnaround remains, but it will require improved fundamentals and consistency. The team’s ability to overcome adversity will be tested as they face upcoming opponents and strive to close the gap with the Blue Jays.
As the Yankees navigate this challenging phase, the accidental hit on Judge by Volpe will likely be remembered as a bizarre footnote in a tough stretch rather than a defining moment. Both players demonstrated resilience—the former by powering a home run shortly after the incident, and the latter by continuing to lead and inspire despite the team’s struggles.
The action is far from over, and the Yankees’ fans will be watching closely to see how the team responds. For now, the club must focus on fundamentals, clean up mistakes, and harness the leadership of stars like Judge to turn the tide in their favor.
