Two home runs from two different teammates isn’t unusual for Aaron Judge, but he knows how special it was for Anthony Volpe and Austin Wells to deliver such key moments during the Yankees’ season opener.



Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees reacts after defeating the Milwaukee Brewers on Opening Day at Yankee Stadium on March 27, 2025 in New York City.

© Getty Images Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees reacts after defeating the Milwaukee Brewers on Opening Day at Yankee Stadium on March 27, 2025 in New York City.

When Aaron Judge speaks, he always makes an impact, and this time was no different following the Yankees’ first victory of the 2025 season. Anthony Volpe and Austin Wells played crucial roles in the game, each hitting a home run.

After the win, Judge first praised Wells, saying, “Incredible… for him to go out there and give us an early lead with that swing. We’ve seen it all spring, guy came into camp ready to go.” He highlighted how vital Wells’ home run was in giving the Yankees momentum.

On Volpe, Judge acknowledged the young player’s progress, noting his improvements at the plate: “Timing, I think that’s been the biggest thing I’ve noticed. He looks more comfortable in the box. He’s aggressive, he’s attacking.”

During the season opener, Judge couldn’t deliver one of his signature big home runs that fans are used to seeing throughout the regular season. It was a tough game for him, with just 1 hit in 4 at-bats, resulting in a .250 batting average—the same as Volpe. However, the young player managed to hit a homer during the game.

Volpe and Wells Continue to Grow Steadily

Wells had a solid rookie season, but his second MLB year with the Yankees was even better, hitting 13 home runs and playing in over 110 games. This performance cements him as a potential future star for the club, with the possibility of becoming the perfect full-time catcher.

Meanwhile, Anthony Volpe, now in his third season with the Yankees, is also showing continuous improvement. Although he only contributed 12 home runs in 2024—nearly 50% fewer than in 2023—his 160 games and 689 plate appearances were strong. He wrapped up last season with a .243 batting average, which is still considered a solid effort.