Cody Bellinger gets it.
He knows why opponents have intentionally walked — and will continue intentionally walking — Aaron Judge in certain spots, even with Judge encountering a rough patch the past two weeks.
“Understandable,” Bellinger said. “I mean, he’s the best hitter on the planet.”
The A’s opted for the same strategy in the third inning Friday with Anthony Volpe on second and first base open, choosing to face the 2019 National League MVP instead of the 2022 and 2024 American League winner — who’s also a clear favorite for the award again this year — in the middle of a historic season.
And three pitches later, Bellinger delivered again, driving in Volpe with a single to give the Yankees a two-run lead and improving to 3-for-9 with four RBIs in 12 plate appearances following Judge intentional walks.
“It’s [the] product of a good 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 want to show so bad in those situations. That can get you into some trouble. He seems to manage that really well.”
Bellinger, who added another single in the eighth to cap a 2-for-4 night, has produced three singles and a sacrifice fly in those settings this year, 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 lot of added motivation,” has gone 2-for-4 with a homer and a single, while Ben Rice produced an RBI double in one of his two chances.
Those walks will only continue over the final half of the regular season given Judge’s .358 average, 28 homers and 63 RBIs.
Judge remains on track to shatter the career-high 21 intentional walks he received between the regular season and playoffs last year.
So far, 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, with his average dipping beneath .200 in early May — marked just the latest.
“Especially for me, it’s like, feel like that’s really disrespectful to walk someone in front of me — with Cody, especially the career that he’s had, to walk someone in front of him,” Chisholm said. “I know it’s Judge, but still.”
