Who steps up to strengthen the team and keep that family vibe alive? The captain of the team, right? Enter Alex Verdugo, who feels the unwavering support of his captain, Aaron Judge, every step of the way! The Yankees have a long history of celebrating together—whether it’s Judge launching his 50th home run in a season, Juan Soto’s electrifying streak, or the unforgettable moment of giving a rookie their first retrograde drink shower. So, how could they possibly let Wednesday slip by without a celebration?

After a rough stretch, the Yankees got down to business on Wednesday night, clinching a postseason berth with a thrilling 2-1 win over the Mariners in 10 innings. The vibes in the visiting clubhouse? Off the charts; they celebrated this huge achievement with a wild champagne and beer bash— and why wouldn’t they? Amid all the laughter and cheers, veteran Alex Verdugo really stood out. After a season full of ups and downs, he was right there in the middle of the party, pouring his heart out!

Alex Verdugo spells out what keeps the Bronx Bombers together

The 28-year-old started by looking back upon what this year has been, with so many ups and downs, “It’s been a long year, but this is the time of the year they boys know the mission,” he said with a grin. After trudging through a rough August, the team was able to flip the script in September. With Wednesday’s win, they’ve officially clinched a playoff berth. Despite missing out on last year’s playoffs following a miserable 82-80 season, the victory becomes even sweeter; and now they are eyeing the next best thing: Clinching the AL division!

 

If this happens, it will mark Aaron Judge‘s first division clinch after being the captain. But Alex didn’t just focus on their on-field mission; he also said that beyond that, off the field too, they are together as a family. All thanks to their captain, Aaron Judge, who, according to Verdugo, “leads by example.” With his powerful gameplay this year, an OPS of 1.144, 53 home runs, and 136 RBI, Judge is indeed in beast mode. Although his last few games have been slow, he remains the top contender for MVP.

Beyond being the beast on the field, Alex also revealed how Judge is responsible for making the Bronx Bombers feel like a family together. But what is his mantra? Well, according to the slugger, it’s to “be yourself,” and once you are, the team will appreciate and back you up! Every player in the New York Yankees abides by this rule – if we take the case of Alex seeing his season 2024, he definetly needed that emotional support!

Why Verdugo needed to ‘be himself’?

During the 2024 season,

Alex Verdugo hit a rough patch at the plate, and fans were getting restless, cheering louder and louder for Jasson Domínguez to get the call-up. The timing couldn’t have been worse—Verdugo’s struggles coincided with a string of losses for the Yankees, making the fans even more anxious for a lineup shake-up. Meanwhile, Jasson was lighting it up in the minors, proving he was ready for the big stage. And guess what? Whether it was the fans’ relentless chants or just plain fate, Jasson made his return to the Bronx just a week ago.

But that doesn’t mean Alex was sidelined – the team managed to keep both him and Jasson on the field, even if it meant fewer at-bats for Verdugo. The team is now back in a solid lead ahead of the playoffs; Alex has sure started to make a comeback too –  batting .304 over the last 19 games, with two home runs and a .757 OPS.  Looking at this progress, there is a possibility we might just see Alex Verdugo in left field this October.

At present, the team has a lot on their agenda. As manager Boone has said before, he’s not here to make everyone happy—there could be a lot of lineup changes on the horizon. Especially now that the Yankees are sitting five games ahead of the Orioles in the standings, with just ten games left until the playoffs, every decision counts. Alex’s improvement is definitely a positive sign, and you have to wonder if the team’s mantra of “be yourself” has played a role in helping him in doing so.

What do you think of this mantra? Drop your take in the comments.