As the captain of the New York Yankees, Aaron Judge is not just meeting expectations; he’s redefining them. His extraordinary performance this season has pundits and fans alike marveling at the kind of rarefied air he’s breathing.
Judge, as of August 26, is posting a remarkable .333/.465/.736 line, complemented by 51 home runs and 122 RBIs. His comprehensive dominance is clear, as he leads Major League Baseball in home runs, RBIs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and Wins Above Replacement (WAR). There are still 31 games left in the season, yet Judge is already at the forefront of discussions about one of the greatest seasons ever played.
Rewriting the Records
The statistical milestones Judge is closing in on further highlight the excellence of his season. Only 15 players have ever recorded 100 extra-base hits in a single season, and 29 players have reached 400 total bases. Remarkably, achieving both feats in one season has been done only 13 times. Judge is projected to end up with 101 extra-base hits and 418 total bases, joining a historic club of players who have shattered such barriers.
In the past 36 games, Judge has homered 19 times, including seven home runs in his last six games. He's on pace to hit 63 home runs this season, which would surpass his rookie mark of 52 home runs in 2017 and even edge out his towering performance of 62 home runs in 2022. The sheer power and consistency of Judge's bat have been nothing short of riveting.
Turning Around a Sluggish Start
It’s important to note that Judge had a sluggish start to the season. By April 23, his batting line was an uninspiring .174/.308/.337. However, since then, his performance has been nothing short of elite, posting a 1.328 OPS in the 106 games following that date. “I'm kinda running out of words to say. You're witnessing greatness. You really are. He's just kinda better than everyone,” remarked Yankees Manager Aaron Boone, summing up what many in the baseball community are feeling.
Despite his prolific power, Judge is far from a one-dimensional slugger. In at-bats that don’t culminate in home runs, he boasts a solid .250 batting average and a .413 on-base percentage. His strikeout rate has also seen a notable improvement. He’s striking out in 23.4% of his plate appearances this season, a significant drop from his 30.7% rate in 2017 and even lower than his 25.1% rate in 2022. These improvements showcase Judge's commitment to becoming a well-rounded hitter.
Elevating to Legendary Status
Aaron Judge’s current season also stacks up impressively against some of baseball’s all-time greats. Both Jimmie Foxx and Rogers Hornsby are the only right-handed hitters who can boast two seasons with an OPS+ of over 200. Judge achieved a 210 OPS+ in 2022 and is on track for another season over 200, placing him among the immortals of the game. Hornsby's legendary 1924 season had a 222 OPS+, a standard that Judge is edging closer to with each game.
Another challenge Judge has adeptly managed is the lack of a platoon advantage, having it in only 26% of his plate appearances. Despite this, his numbers have remained mammoth, further dignifying his standing among the elites.
Despite these gaudy numbers and continual jaw-dropping performances, Judge remains grounded and focused on the team's success. “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. 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,” Judge said, exemplifying the humility and team-first mindset that has endeared him to fans and teammates alike.
With the season not yet over and 31 games remaining, Judge has ample opportunity to write his name even larger in the annals of baseball history. His ongoing excellence is not just a testament to personal achievement but a beacon of inspiration to the sport itself. Capturing the greatness of Aaron Judge means capturing a moment in time when we witness a player at the peak of his powers, reshaping the game with every swing of the bat.