The Yankees were struggling, and with Aaron Judge in IL, it added to the problems. But against the Rays on Wednesday, they did more than just win; they wowed everyone. And Manager Aaron Boone praised the slugger who stepped up in glowing terms. If Boone’s remarks are any indicator, that player might be in the running for MVP with Judge.

The numbers back it up.

Cody Bellinger has 20 home runs, 62 RBIs, and an OPS of about .853 in just under 100 games this season. He has also scored 61 runs and gotten over 109 hits. That level of performance, especially when it counted most, has gotten a lot of attention and praise from the skipper.

When Boone was asked how he had been doing in the absence of Judge, he replied, “We talk about Judgie being MVP and rightfully so, but we’re going to get to the end of the year and Cody Bellinger’s going to be on that list. I don’t know where he’s going to fall, but he’s played that well. He’s been so good on both sides of the ball. The speed and athleticism on the bases too. A ton of big hits.”

Bellinger didn’t simply play. He came through in the clutch, hitting an RBI triple in the 10th inning that tied the game at 4–4 and set up the last inning. His clutch hit brought NYY back up, and in doing so, he played like an MVP in Judge’s absence.

But tbh, it was a collective Yankee effort that ended in their 5-4 win against the Rays.

Trent Grisham hit a solo home run in the eighth inning to tie the game, and Anthony Volpe hit a solo home run in the ninth inning to send the game into extra innings. Giancarlo Stanton also had a single that scored a run earlier in the eighth inning, giving a 2-1 lead to the Yankees. Then, this was followed by Volpe and Bellinger’s play, marking 3 ties in one game.

Finally, Tim Hill closed the door in the bottom of the 11th, keeping the inning scoreless, and Ryan McMahon, who was just acquired, hit a walk-off RBI single after a walk moved the winning run into scoring position.

It was a historic night for the Bronx. They are the only MLB club in the modern era to come back from behind in the 8th, 9th, and 10th and then win in the 11th. That is a proof of tenacity, depth, and a sense of self that comes with not giving up easily. Like Boone said it best after the game, “This team does a great job of playing.”

And Bellinger himself kept it honest. “It’s a huge win. Baseball wins come in a bunch of different ways. And this was a good one.”

Well, now, only time will tell whether Bellinger will be with Judge for the MVP race or not. But against the Rays, it was indeed a good one, and everyone in the Yankees seems to be thrilled, including the new faces.

New face, instant impact: Yankees celebrate

The Yankees’ clubhouse was buzzing with excitement. Ryan McMahon, the new infielder who got the walk-off hit, is already taking it all in. “It’s a lot of fun being here and being in this clubhouse. It’s a very dangerous team,” and he smiled after only a few days with his new group.

McMahon even praised Bellinger’s performance. “It was a big back-and-forth game. I can’t overstate how clutch Belli was down that stretch. Trent with the big homer for us. There were a lot of really good things done by guys, and then I was just the one that came through at the end. “

When asked what he thought of the Yankees as a team, McMahon didn’t mince words. “They’re scary, man. This lineup’s incredible. The pitching staff’s incredible. The bullpen’s disgusting.” He’s not just getting used to it; he’s impressed.

And for rookie pitcher Will Warren, who pitched six good innings, the night was remarkable. He quipped, “It had that playoff feel. The steady fight. They throw one punch, we throw one back.”

Evidently, the Yankees had a great game with every player contributing as they target the October glory. Were you not waiting for this team only?