A retired St. Louis Cardinals superstar was recently compared to New York Yankees two-time American League MVP Aaron Judge.

After sweeping the Milwaukee Brewers to open the 2025 season, the New York Yankees, stymied by Arizona Diamondbacks' elite pitching in the first two games of the club's second series of the season, found themselves facing a sweep entering Thursday's game.

MLB player prop bets and odds for Aaron Judge on Friday, April 4, 2025, as the New York Yankees take on the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Aaron Judge hit a three-run homer in the first inning for his 500th career extra-base hit as the host New York Yankees raced out to a big lead and earned a 9-7 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday night.

Aaron Judge started another home run barrage with a three-run, first-inning drive that made him the third-fastest Yankees player with 500 extra-base hits and finished with three hits and four RBIs to lead New York over the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-7.

Aaron Judge hit a three-run homer in the first inning for his 500th career extra-base hit, collected three hits and drove in four runs as the host New York Yankees raced out to a big lead and earned a 9-7 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks Thursday night.

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge homers on a fly ball to right center field, his 500th extra base hit, during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) AP

MLB player prop bets and odds for Aaron Judge on Thursday, April 3, 2025, as the New York Yankees take on the Arizona Diamondbacks.