Aaron Judge’s debut partner took a very different path to a title
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Aaron Judge’s debut partner took a very different path to a title originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
On this date in 2016, Yankees fans saw a glimpse of the future, or so they thought. Tyler Austin and Aaron Judge stepped to the plate in the second inning against Tampa Bay and launched back-to-back home runs in their first career MLB at-bats. It was a jolt of youth and power for a team looking for the foundation of it’s next dynasty.
On this date in 2016: Tyler Austin and Aaron Judge hit their first @MLB home runs, back to back, in an 8-4 win vs. Tampa Bay.— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) August 13, 2025
Judge obviously became a franchise cornerstone.
Austin’s path was different.
After parts of four MLB seasons with the Yankees, Twins, Giants, and Brewers, Austin’s major league career ended in 2019 with a .219 batting average, 33 home runs, and 91 RBIs.
He wasn’t done playing, though. Instead, he took his power swing overseas, signing with Japan’s Yokohama DeNA BayStars in 2020.
The move revitalized his career and got him something even Judge hasn’t achieved.
Austin quickly became a lineup fixture, earning a batting title and helping Yokohama win the Japan Series in 2024. The closest Judge came to a title was last season’s World Series appearance. His ability to adjust to NPB pitching, combined with steady power, made him one of the league’s most respected foreign hitters.
In 2025, Austin is still wearing BayStars blue.
Through 37 games this season, he’s hitting .244 with a .336 on-base percentage and a .420 slugging mark, has a solid .756 OPS, while playing first base and corner outfield. It’s a long way from Yankee Stadium, but he’s built a solid second act that many players never find.
Austin’s debut will always be linked to Judge’s.
They were two rookies making history on the same day.
Judge went on to be Rookie of the Year and then a two-time American League MVP. He set the AL record for single-season home runs and has written his name in the Yankees' history books with the likes of Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth.
But nearly a decade later, his story shows there’s more than one way to carve out a lasting baseball career. Some stars shine brightest in the Bronx; others find their light in Yokohama.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
