Pitchers: You Don't Have to Rise

MeOK, so, yeah, I’m a bit preoccupied by this amazing start from Aaron Judge I write a bit about Judge in The Batting Order this week — it feels about the right time to start considering just where he belongs in the pantheon of baseball greats. Watching a guy hit .426 for a month will make you think that way.

But I want you to watch the video above of Judge hitting his 10th home run.

OK. What do you see?

Obviously, you see Judge in full form, mashing a ball 426 feet, doing what he does. But there’s something else to note.

That might be the worst pitch thrown by any pitcher in 2025.

Poor Cade Povich. You know what that pitch looks like? Like somebody opening the front door and watching helplessly as their dog or cat goes racing outside.

But here’s the thing: Aaron Judge has been FEASTING on Cade-Povich-like pitches all year. The fastest pitches he has homered on all season is 93.7 mph. More than half of his home runs have come on pitches less than 90 mph.

Best I can tell, nine of the 10 pitches home’s homered on were mistake pitches … but hey, this is Joe’s Notebook, so I’ll let you be the Judge, home run by home run.

No. 1: Nestor Cortes’ 88.2 mph cutter

Judge started off the season by nuking this meatball from his former teammate Nestor Cortes 468 feet. Nestor gets by by disrupting timing. Judge’s timing was pretty impeccable here.

No. 2: Connor Thomas’ 88.3 mph cutter

This from Connor Thomas was actually a tough pitch, I think. Up and in. Would likely have jammed a normal hitter. It’s probably the toughest pitch Judge has hit for a homer all year.

No. 3: Connor Thomas’ 85.4 mph changeup

While I think you can cut Connor Thomas some slack for home run No. 2, I don’t think you can for this changeup that seemed to be searching for a bat to hit. Yuck. This might be the worst pitch Judge homered on before Wednesday.

No. 4: Aaron Civale’s 89.7 mph cutter

Woof. This is probably not Aaron Civale’s proudest moment.

No. 5: Merrill Kelly’s 93.2 mph four-seamer

Well, you have to say this: Kelly hit his spot if the catcher’s glove is any indication. Unfortunately, his spot was over the heart of the plate, and Judge isn’t going to miss pitches like this when he’s hot.

No. 6: Tim Mayza’s 93.7 mph sinker

This is it — the fastest pitcher Judge has homered on all year. It’s also middle-middle which, you know, that’s not going to get it done. What is that “Rookie of the Year” quote? “Wah! Wah! What, are you kidding me? I eat fastballs for breakfast!”

No. 7: John Schreiber’s 93.1 mph sinker

It’s the famous sinker that doesn’t sink.

No. 8: Chris Bassitt’s 87.6 mph cutter

Chris Bassitt has been one of baseball’s most reliable pitchers over the last few years. That’s because he doesn’t usually throw 88 mph cutters that cut right over the heart of the plate.

No. 9: Kyle Gibson’s 91.4 mph sinker

This sinker actually seemed to rise — and we all know that Judge likes it when people rise for him. Gibson’s reaction is pretty priceless.

No. 10: Cade Povich’s 82.6 sweeper

For posterity, here’s the screenshot of that remarkable hanging sweeper that Cade Povich threw to Judge on Wednesday. I’m not the type to normally say stuff like this because I know my limitations as an athlete … but if Cade told me he was going to throw me that exact pitch before he threw it, I’m pretty sure I could foul it off.

Pitchers of the world, you can keep your seats when the Judge walks in. It’s OK.

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