Aaron Judge: The Surging Captain of the New York Yankees
New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge is making waves in the Major League Baseball (MLB) community, bringing his A-game to the diamond and solidifying his case as one of the game's premiere players. As of August 26, Judge's stellar performance is reflected in his impressive .333/.465/.736 line, with 51 home runs and 122 RBIs to his name. This statistical dominance extends beyond mere power hitting; Judge leads the league not only in home runs and RBIs but also in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and Wins Above Replacement (WAR).
With 31 games remaining in the season, the anticipation surrounding Judge's potential milestones continues to build. He is on pace to achieve 101 extra-base hits and 418 total bases, feats that only a handful of players in MLB history have ever accomplished. To put this into perspective, only 15 players have ever recorded 100 extra-base hits, and just 29 have reached the 400 total bases mark in a single season. Achieving both in the same season has been accomplished only 13 times, underscoring the historical significance of Judge's current trajectory.
In recent games, Judge has been nothing short of extraordinary, homering seven times in his last six games and 19 times in his last 36. These performances have placed him on pace for a projected 63 home runs this season. This would surpass his rookie season total of 52 home runs in 2017 and bring him close to his career-high of 62 home runs, which he set just last year in 2022.
Despite his prowess at hitting the long ball, Judge's overall hitting mechanics are equally praiseworthy. When his at-bats don't culminate in home runs, Judge maintains a .250 batting average and an impressive .413 on-base percentage. These stats paint the picture of a player who contributes significantly, even when not hitting home runs. Judge's season began modestly with a .174/.308/.337 line by April 23, but since then, his performance has soared, boasting an OPS of 1.328 in 106 games following that date.
However, it's not just Judge's batting that draws attention. His strikeout rate of 23.4% this season is a noteworthy improvement from his 30.7% rate in 2017 and marginally better than last year's 25.1%, although it remains slightly above the MLB average strikeout rate of 22.4%. This improvement speaks to Judge's dedication to refining his game and minimizing his weaknesses.
Judge's exceptional season has drawn accolades from every corner of the baseball world. Yankees manager Aaron Boone encapsulated the sentiment surrounding Judge's performance by stating, “I'm kinda running out of words to say. You're witnessing greatness. You really are. He's just kinda better than everyone.”
Judge himself, however, remains modest and team-oriented. “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,” he remarked, emphasizing his focus on the team’s success over individual accolades.
In the pantheon of baseball greats, Judge is also making a case for inclusion among the all-time legends. He aims to join the exclusive club of players with an OPS+ of over 200 in multiple seasons. Only Jimmie Foxx and Rogers Hornsby, both right-handed hitters, have achieved this feat. Judge came remarkably close with a 210 OPS+ in 2022, mirroring the kind of peak-level performance showcased by some of the sport’s historic icons.
As the season races towards its conclusion, baseball enthusiasts and statisticians alike will keep a close eye on Judge’s performance. His projected milestones not only contribute to his growing legacy but also offer an exciting narrative for the sport. Yankees fans, and baseball lovers in general, can look forward to witnessing how Judge’s spectacular season will unfold.