Judge's Historic Season: A Testament to Greatness
In the storied history of the New York Yankees, few players have captured the imagination of fans quite like Aaron Judge. As of August 26, the Yankees' captain is putting together a season for the ages, achieving a remarkable .333/.465/.736 line with 51 home runs and 122 RBIs. His performance doesn’t just make headlines—it sets the standard.
Judge's dominance is evident across the board. He leads the league in home runs, RBIs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and WAR. With 31 games left in the season, Judge is projected to achieve 101 extra-base hits and 418 total bases, accomplishments that have been achieved only 13 times in MLB history. These numbers place him on pace to join an elite club—only 15 players have ever recorded 100 extra-base hits in a season, and just 29 have reached 400 total bases.
The towering right fielder has been on a tear recently, homering seven times in his last six games and 19 times in his last 36 games. His extraordinary run of form has propelled him to the brink of history, as he is on pace for 63 home runs this season. Reflecting on his performance, Judge remains grounded: “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.”
Achieving greatness is not new for Judge. In 2017, he announced his arrival with a staggering 52 home runs in his rookie season. Last year, he raised the bar even higher, finishing with 62 home runs. However, it's not just the long ball that defines him; Judge's overall game has evolved. Despite a .250 batting average in at-bats that don't culminate in home runs, his on-base percentage stands at an impressive .413 in those situations, demonstrating his ability to contribute in various ways.
Judge’s 2023 campaign is even more impressive considering his slow start. By April 23, his batting line was a pedestrian .174/.308/.337. Yet, in the 106 games since, he has soared to an OPS of 1.328, indicating one of the most significant in-season turnarounds in recent memory. His strikeout rate of 23.4% this season, while still above the MLB average of 22.4%, marks a notable improvement from the 30.7% rate of his rookie year. Compared to his 25.1% strikeout rate in 2022, it's clear that Judge has refined his approach at the plate.
Historically, only legends like Rogers Hornsby and Jimmie Foxx have boasted two seasons with an OPS+ over 200. Judge, who achieved a 210 OPS+ in 2022, is on the cusp of joining this revered list. Manager Aaron Boone, witnessing Judge's incredible season day in and day out, sums it up best: “I’m kinda running out of words to say. You’re witnessing greatness. You really are. He’s just kinda better than everyone.”
Indeed, Judge's performance this year is so high that it invites comparisons to some of the greatest seasons in baseball history, such as Rogers Hornsby's 1924 campaign, which featured a 222 OPS+. The numbers and accolades only tell part of the story. Judge's leadership and presence in the clubhouse amplify his value to the Yankees. Despite having the platoon advantage in only 26% of his plate appearances, he continues to perform at an extraordinary level, underscoring his ability to succeed in less-than-ideal situations.
As the season winds down, and with the MVP race heating up, Aaron Judge stands not only as the face of the Yankees but also as a beacon of excellence in Major League Baseball. His blend of power, patience, and poise at the plate has redefined what it means to be a complete hitter. For fans and analysts alike, each game offers another chapter in what can only be described as a legendary season.