Yankees' Star Aaron Judge Shines with Historic Season
As the New York Yankees push through the final leg of the season, Aaron Judge continues to cement his legacy as one of baseball's brightest stars. The slugger, who serves as the captain of the Yankees, is in the midst of a season that has the fans and his own teammates in awe.
By August 26, Judge has achieved an impressive .333/.465/.736 line, accompanied by 51 home runs and 122 RBIs. An all-around performer, he leads the league in home runs, RBIs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and Wins Above Replacement (WAR). Judge’s eye-popping numbers have Manager Aaron Boone running out of superlatives. “I'm kinda running out of words to say. You're witnessing greatness. You really are. He's just kinda better than everyone,” Boone remarked.
Not only is Judge starring in the moment; he's also setting his sights on making history. With 31 games remaining in the season, projections indicate that Judge could finish with 101 extra-base hits and 418 total bases. This achievement would place him in elite company. Only 15 players have ever recorded 100 extra-base hits in a season, and just 29 have reached 400 total bases. The combination of both in a single season has been achieved only 13 times.
Judge’s home run prowess has been on vivid display recently, as he has homered seven times in his last six games and 19 times over his last 36 contests. This surge has put him on pace for a remarkable 63 home runs this season, continuing the power display that saw him hit 52 home runs in his rookie season in 2017 and 62 home runs last season in 2022.
Discussing his success, Judge remains humble and focuses on team goals. “I got to this point trying to be a good hitter and a good teammate, so that’s what I’m going to try to do,” Judge explained. “I feel like if I can do that, we can look up at the end of the year, and I think the numbers will be where they’re supposed to be.”
However, it's not just the home runs that make Judge stand out. Even in at-bats that don’t culminate in the long ball, he maintains an impressive .250 batting average and a .413 on-base percentage. After a slow start where his line was .174/.308/.337 by April 23, Judge turned things around dramatically, posting an extraordinary 1.328 OPS over the next 106 games. His ability to adjust and bounce back speaks volumes about his skill and determination.
Judge's overall strikeout rate this season is 23.4%, which is slightly above the MLB average of 22.4%. Nonetheless, it is a substantial improvement from his earlier career averages, illustrating his growth as a hitter. He had a strikeout rate of 30.7% during his rookie season and 25.1% in 2022.
When comparing Judge's historic season to those of the past, it is worth noting the remarkable company he keeps. Rogers Hornsby’s 1924 season had a 222 OPS+, and only Jimmie Foxx and Hornsby have managed two seasons with an OPS+ of over 200. Judge joins this exclusive club, having recorded a 210 OPS+ in 2022.
Despite all these record-breaking statistics, Judge approaches each game with a team-first attitude and consistency at the plate, regardless of facing right-handed or left-handed pitchers. He has had the platoon advantage in merely 26% of his plate appearances, yet continues to deliver consistently stellar performances.
As the season wears on, all eyes will remain fixated on Aaron Judge. The Yankees' captain is not just rewriting the record books but also leading by example, embodying the perfect blend of individual talent and team leadership. His remarkable season is a testament to his dedication to the game and his relentless pursuit of excellence.