It seems as though everyone is complaining about the new ball this year. Pitchers claim that they cannot get a grip on it and that every ball is different. Hitters claim that hitting the ball is akin to hitting a rolled up sock. However, those concerns do not seem to be a problem for the New York Yankees.
Only three players have hit at least five homers in a five game span this season. All three happen to be members of the Yankees – Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Anthony Rizzo.
New York Yankees bringing back the Bronx Bombers of old
No one should be surprised that Judge and Stanton are on this list. When healthy, they are two of the most dangerous power hitters in the game, something that they have proven time and again when in the batter’s box. That is certainly the case this season as well as they have been the Yankees’ two best hitters heading into Tuesday.
The same could not have been said for Rizzo entering the 2022 season. He had been decent with the Yankees in his 49 games last season, but did not show that he would be anywhere close to being in the same class as Judge or Stanton.
Then the season began. Rizzo has been an absolute bargain, as he has posted a 153 OPS+ with ten homers in his 146 plate appearances heading into Tuesday. His OPS+ trails only Judge and Stanton, and his ten homers are tied with Stanton for second on the team.
Rizzo had seemed to be a perfect fit in New York. He was not shy about wanting to return, something that was an inevitability before the contract was officially signed. With his presence in the lineup alongside Judge and Stanton, the Bronx Bombers are flexing their muscles once more.
The New York Yankees have the only players to homer at least five times in a five game span. The Bronx Bombers are back despite the new dead ball.