This story was excerpted from Bryan Hoch's Yankees Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
NEW YORK – Awards season is officially underway across Major League Baseball, and the Yankees have already brought home some hardware, with more potentially on deck this week.
With captain Aaron Judge leading the charge, the Yankees were selected for the American League’s team Silver Slugger Award, coming after the Bombers paced the Majors in runs scored (849) and home runs (274).
It’s the second time the Yankees have received the award, which is voted upon by Major League managers and coaches.
“I’ve been saying the whole year, this roster is a one-of-a-kind roster,” Jazz Chisholm Jr. said in October. “You’ve got great players on this team, in the bullpen, starting rotation and on the field. So for me, I always believed that this team was the best in the league.”
Additionally, the Yankees had two positional winners: Judge, who won as an outfielder for the fifth time; and Chisholm, who was selected as a Silver Slugger Award winner at second base for the first time.
Judge had another historic season in 2025, winning his first career batting title with a .331 mark while hitting 53 home runs with 114 RBIs and a Major League-leading 1.145 OPS. He also paced the Majors in on-base percentage (.457) and slugging percentage (.688).
Mickey Mantle (1956) and Jimmie Foxx (1938) are the only other players in Major League history to hit at least 50 home runs while winning a batting title in the same season.
“I’m up there trying to do damage and help the team win,” Judge said in September. “I just think trying to be a good hitter is infectious. It’s contagious. One hit leads to another, and that equals more winning.”
It marks back-to-back years with Silver Slugger Awards for Judge, who has won four in the past five seasons and is now tied with Derek Jeter, Robinson Canó, Jorge Posada and Dave Winfield for the most by a Yankee.
Chisholm posted his first 30-30 season in 2025, belting a career-high 31 homers while stealing 31 bases. He said playing for the Yankees has boosted his career.
“The winning mentality, the winning atmosphere – the way everybody from the front office to the training staff wants to win,” Chisholm said. “It’s how I felt like I grew up playing baseball, and what I needed to be around to be even more successful.”
Owning a .242/.332/.481 slash line, Chisholm joined Bobby Bonds (1975) and Alfonso Soriano (2002-03) as the only Yanks to register a 30-30 season, also setting career highs in runs scored (75), RBIs (80) and walks (58).
“I definitely think 40-40 is very achievable in a full, healthy season,” Chisholm said.
With left-hander Max Fried also having won an AL Gold Glove Award earlier this offseason, the Yankees will now turn their attention to Thursday’s announcement, when the Baseball Writers’ Association of America will unveil the 2025 AL Most Valuable Player.
Judge would certainly welcome the honor if it comes his way, but he made it clear that one trophy matters more.
“I can sit there and try to chase numbers, but I’m just trying to do what I can to help our team win as many ballgames as we can and put ourselves in the best position to win the World Series,” Judge said.