Aaron Judge’s Remarkable Season Continues Unabated
In the pantheon of baseball greats, Aaron Judge is quickly carving out a space for himself, especially with his performance this season. As the captain of the New York Yankees, Judge is not just leading his team; he's dominating Major League Baseball in a way few have ever done before. His eye-popping statistics through August 26 are nothing short of extraordinary, boasting a .333/.465/.736 line with 51 home runs and 122 RBIs. In virtually every offensive category, Judge is exemplifying excellence. He leads the league in home runs, RBIs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and Wins Above Replacement (WAR).
With 31 games left in the season, Judge is projected to achieve feats that are exceedingly rare in baseball history. Only 15 players have recorded 100 extra-base hits in a season, and just 29 have reached 400 total bases. Remarkably, the combination of 100 extra-base hits and 400 total bases has been accomplished a mere 13 times. Judge is on pace to add his name to this elite list, projected to finish with 101 extra-base hits and 418 total bases.
His recent form suggests that these projections are well within reach. Judge has homered seven times in his last six games and 19 times in his last 36 games. This blistering pace has him on track to hit 63 home runs this season, surpassing his own career-best mark of 62 set just last year in 2022. Such consistency and power are a testament to his extraordinary talent and unwavering dedication.
What makes Judge’s season all the more impressive is the context of his achievements. By April 23, his batting line stood at a subdued .174/.308/.337, a far cry from his current numbers. From April 24 onwards, however, he has turned his season around dramatically, posting an OPS of 1.328 in the 106 games following that date.
Manager Aaron Boone perhaps captured the sentiment best when he said, "I'm kinda running out of words to say. You're witnessing greatness. You really are. He's just kinda better than everyone." Indeed, witnessing Judge's season unfold is witnessing history in the making.
Judge’s ability to deliver in clutch situations also shines through his batting statistics. Despite a .250 batting average in at-bats that don’t culminate in home runs, his on-base percentage during those at-bats is a robust .413. This showcases his discipline and ability to contribute significantly, even when he’s not hitting the ball out of the park.
One can’t overlook the fact that Judge's strikeout rate has also improved over the years. Having struck out in 30.7% of his plate appearances during his rookie season in 2017, his strikeout rate this season stands at 23.4%, just slightly above the MLB average of 22.4%. This represents a marked improvement from his 25.1% strikeout rate in 2022, indicating a more refined approach at the plate.
Aaron Judge is far from a one-dimensional player. Only Jimmie Foxx and Rogers Hornsby have boasted two seasons with an OPS+ of over 200 among right-handers. Judge, with his 210 OPS+ in 2022, is poised to join this exclusive club if he maintains his current level of play. In fact, by the numbers, Judge’s current season might eclipse even Hornsby’s legendary 1924 campaign, which had an OPS+ of 222.
Judge’s humility and team-first mentality are key aspects of his 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. This attitude perfectly encapsulates why he has been bestowed the captaincy of the Yankees and why his teammates and fans alike hold him in such high regard.
As Judge continues his campaign with 31 games remaining, the baseball world watches with bated breath. Will he surpass his own records? Will he etch his name even deeper into the annals of baseball history? One thing is certain: Aaron Judge is on a trajectory that could define an era, a player of such prodigious talent that we are indeed, as Boone says, "witnessing greatness."