RONALD BLUM Baseball Writer, Author at The Rapid City Post

Aaron Judge becomes fastest to 350 homers, doing so in 1,088 games, bettering Mark McGwire’s 1,280

July 12, 2025

Aaron Judge didn’t just become the fastest player to hit 350 home runs, he did it in 192 fewer games than Mark McGwire. Judge homered to right-center on a high 0-2 fastball from Brad Keller, a two-run, ninth-inning drive a couple rows into the right-center field seats during the New York Yankees’ 5-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs. He reached 350 in his 1,088th game. McGwire hit No.350 in his 1,280th game, against Detroit’s Brian Moehler on June 2, 1997, bettering Harmon Killebrew in his 1,319th game

Yankees All-Star Max Fried forced from start by index finger blister, which caused 4 past IL stints

July 12, 2025

Yankees All-Star left-hander Max Fried left a start against the Chicago Cubs after a season-low three innings because of a a blister on his left index finger. Fried was on the injured list for blisters on his left index finger in 2018, ’19, ’21 and ’23. Fried allowed nine of 18 batters to reach, giving up four runs — three earned — six hits and three walks. He threw just 39 of 73 pitches for strikes, falling behind with first-pitch balls to nine batters.

New York Yankees players celebrate with outfielder Aaron Judge, center, after the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Friday, July 11, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Yankees’ Aaron Judge makes 3 outstanding catches, robs Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong of home run

July 11, 2025

Aaron Judge made three outstanding catches in right field, robbing Pete Crow-Armstrong of a home run, Dansby Swanson of a single and Kyle Tucker of a two-run hit in the New York Yankees’ 11-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs. The 6-foot-7 Judge leaped at the right-field wall to catch a 327-foot drive by Crow-Armstrong against Carlos Rodón in the fourth inning, denying what would have been Crow-Armstrong’s 26th home run. Judge then rushed in and dove for a backhand grab on Swanson’s sinking liner for the third out of the inning and made a sliding catch on Tucker in the eighth.

Yanks’ Cody Bellinger hits 3rd home run of game against Cubs, an inning after being robbed

July 11, 2025

Cody Bellinger hit three two-run homers, leading the New York Yankees to an 11-0 win over the Chicago Cubs. Facing his former team, Bellinger homered in a three-run third off Chris Flexen and in the fifth against Caleb Thielbar. Bellinger nearly went deep in the seventh but was robbed by Kyle Tucker on a drive above the right-field wall. Bellinger homered in the eighth off Jordan Wicks, just above the glove of leaping center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. Traded to the Yankees in December, Bellinger is batting .406 during a career-high 16-game hitting streak.

New York Mets' Jeff McNeil (1) celebrates with Brett Baty (7) after scoring on his two-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Friday, July 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

Jeff McNeil’s home run and sparkling defensive play carry Mets past Yankees in Subway Series

July 4, 2025

Jeff McNeil’s clutch performance helped the New York Mets secure a thrilling 6-5 win over the Yankees in their Subway Series opener at Citi Field. McNeil hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh inning off Luke Weaver and made a diving play at second base in the ninth to prevent a potential rally. The Mets overcame two deficits, while the Yankees squandered leads of 2-0 and 5-3. The Mets have won three straight after losing 14 of 17, while the Yankees have lost five in a row. Both teams were in first place when they met at Yankee Stadium in May but have faded badly of late.

New York Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. reacts after hitting a three-run scoring triple during the third inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Sunday, June 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Jazz Age at Yankee Stadium as Chisholm sparks Yankees at plate, on defense and in clubhouse

June 29, 2025

The Jazz Age is in full swing at Yankee Stadium. Whether with his bat, his glove, his arm or his smile, Jazz Chisholm Jr. is energizing the New York Yankees and their fans. Chisholm hit a second-inning, go-ahead homer and a bases-loaded triple while making three sparkling defensive plays at third base in a 12-5 romp over the Athletics. Chisholm is batting .318 with six homers, 18 RBIs and four stolen bases since returning from strained right oblique on June 3, raising his season totals to .242 with 13 homers, 35 and 10 steals in 53 games.

New York Yankees pitcher Ryan Yarbrough winds up during a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)

Yarbrough goes on injured list in another hit to Yankees pitching, Winans to make New York debut

June 22, 2025

The New York Yankees pitching took another hit when Ryan Yarbrough was put on the 15-day injured list with a strained right oblique. A 33-year-old right-hander, Yarbrough is 3-1 with a 3.90 ERA in eight starts and eight relief appearances. New York already was missing ace Gerrit Cole (Tommy John surgery), AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil (lat strain) and Marcus Stroman (knee). Rookie Allan Winans will make his Yankees debut on Monday night at Cincinnati after going 7-0 with an 0.90 ERA at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Giancarlo Stanton makes season debut for Yankees after missing first 70 games

June 16, 2025

Giancarlo Stanton got two hits in his season debut for the Yankees against the Los Angeles Angels after missing New York’s first 70 games because of inflammation in the tendons of both elbows. Stanton received a standing ovation when he came to the plate with two on and two outs in the first inning. Batting fifth, the designated hitter hit a 101.5 mph groundout to third on the first pitch. He then grounded a sinker to left against José Soriano for a 111.1 mph single in the fourth.

Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. has The Seventy Percent Solution

June 6, 2025

Jazz Chisholm Jr. has The Seventy Percent Solution. While most athletes talk about the urge to give 100% or even 110%, the New York Yankees infielder thinks his success since returning from the injured list has been caused by limiting his intensity. Chisholm hit a three-run, go-ahead homer in the first inning and four RBIs to spark the Yankees over the Boston Red Sox 9-6 in the first meeting this year of AL East rivals. He says: “Just go at 70%. That’s what’s been working for me.”

FILE - MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks at the SBJ CAA World Congress of Sport, April 22, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)

Trump’s support of Rose among the voices Manfred listened to in ruling MLB ban ended with death

June 4, 2025

President Donald Trump’s support of Pete Rose was among the factors Major Legaue Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred weighed when he decided last month that permanent bans by the sport ended with death, which allows the career hits leader to be considered for the Hall of Fame. Manfred announced the new interpretation on May 13, a decision that allows Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson to be considered for a Hall committee vote in December 2027. Manfred also said computer technology to appeal ball/strike calls could be in place for the 2026 regular season.

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani stands on second base during the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, May 23, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

Shohei Ohtani likely won’t make big league mound return until after All-Star break

May 24, 2025

On the eve of Shohei Ohtani facing batters for the first time since elbow surgery in September 2023, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the two-way star likely won’t return to a major league mound until after the All-Star break. Ohtani is to pitch batting practice before Sunday night’s series finale against the New York Mets. Roberts says “he’s doing his first simulated game for two innings and in theory you got to build a starter up to five, six innings.” He adds: “And so just the natural progression, I just don’t see it being before that.”

RONALD BLUM Baseball Writer.