The Yankees’ offense in the first inning has absolutely evaporated since Aaron Judge hit the injured list. While everyone’s focused on their scoring issues overall since Judge went down, the real gut punch is how completely toothless their attack has become right out of the gate, especially when you look at the numbers.
That First Inning Fall Is Brutal
You saw it in the All-Star Game: Cody Bellinger and Ben Rice ripping back-to-back RBI singles off Cristopher Sánchez, bringing in three runs. Bellinger even snagged MVP honors for his two-run shot. That, my friends, is what a first inning *should* look like, and it’s something Yankees fans have barely seen from their own team lately. Before Judge’s injury, the Yankees were elite, even otherworldly, at putting up early runs. In 2024-25, they led MLB with 0.68 runs per first inning, a .280 batting average, and a .363 on-base percentage. Even in 2026 with Judge playing through a fractured rib, they were second in runs with 0.75, eighth in average at .255, and seventh in OBP at .338. Still good, still a threat.
Now? Forget about it. The bottom dropped out. Without Judge, their first-inning runs per game plunged to a dismal 0.39, dropping them all the way to 27th in the league. Their batting average plummeted to .199, an almost unbelievable 29th in MLB, and their on-base percentage is a league-worst .242. This isn’t just a dip, it’s a full-blown collapse. They’re not just scoring less, they’re barely even getting on base, which tells you everything about the stress they’re putting on their lineup and their pitching staff.
Judge’s Absence Rips the Heart Out of the Lineup
It’s not hard to see why this is happening. Aaron Judge typically bats second or third. That guarantees him a first-inning at-bat almost every single game. He could blast a homer and put a run on the board himself, or he’d get on base and the guys behind him would drive him in. He was the engine, the guy who could set the tone immediately. Check out the single-season first-inning home run leaderboard: Judge is at the top with 20 in 2025 and 18 in 2024. Alex Rodriguez hit 18 in 2001, and Mark McGwire had 17 in 1999. Judge was in that legendary company for early power, and without him, that threat is just gone.
First-inning runs are HUGE. They make the other team play catch-up from the start, they put pressure on the opposing pitcher, and they give your own pitcher some much-needed breathing room. Scoring early sets the entire vibe for the game, giving everyone a boost. Without that early punch, the Yankees are starting games behind the eight ball, and that’s a tough way to try and win. They need to find that early game spark, and fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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