Aaron Judge: A Season for the Ages
In a year packed with electrifying athletic performances, Aaron Judge is scripting a narrative that may well be remembered as one of the most remarkable in Major League Baseball history. As the captain of the New York Yankees, Judge's statistics this season are nothing short of awe-inspiring, commanding respect and admiration from both peers and pundits alike.
By August 26, Judge had achieved a .333/.465/.736 batting line, boasting 51 home runs and 122 RBIs. Such figures not only underscore his phenomenal prowess but also place him firmly in the driver's seat in several critical categories. He currently leads the league in home runs, RBIs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and WAR. With 31 games still remaining in the season, Judge's projections hint at records that few have ever touched.
Judge is on pace for a staggering 63 home runs this season, a feat that would eclipse the 62 he hit in 2022. Piling on the statistics, he's projected to achieve 101 extra-base hits and 418 total bases. The exceptional nature of these numbers becomes even more apparent when considering that only 15 players have ever recorded 100 extra-base hits in a season, and only 29 have reached 400 total bases. The combined achievement of these milestones has been accomplished just 13 times, underscoring the historical significance of Judge's season.
But statistics alone don't do justice to the spectacle of Judge's performances. His propensity for clutch hitting has been on full display, highlighted by homering seven times in his last six games and 19 times in his last 36 games. This ability to consistently perform at a high level is a testament to his meticulous preparation and unwavering focus.
Judge’s journey this season hasn't been free of challenges. Through April 23, his batting line was a modest .174/.308/.337. Since then, however, his OPS has soared to an astronomical 1.328 over the following 106 games. Even more impressively, Judge maintains a .250 batting average and a .413 on-base percentage in at-bats that don't culminate in home runs, illustrating his well-rounded offensive capabilities.
Despite his illustrious performance, Judge's strikeout rate remains a topic of some discussion. Striking out in 23.4% of his plate appearances this season, he hovers just above the MLB average of 22.4%. This, however, is a significant improvement from his rookie season in 2017 when he had a strikeout rate of 30.7%, and even a step down from his 25.1% rate in 2022. Such progression is indicative of his ongoing commitment to refine and elevate his game.
Historical comparisons further elucidate Judge's exceptional season. Rogers Hornsby’s 1924 season, with a 222 OPS+, is often cited as one of the pinnacle achievements in baseball history. Jimmie Foxx and Rogers Hornsby stand alone as right-handers with two seasons boasting an OPS+ over 200. Judge’s 2022 season saw him join this elite company with a 210 OPS+.
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone summed it up aptly: “I'm kinda running out of words to say. You're witnessing greatness. You really are. He's just kinda better than everyone.” Such statements, while rife with hyperbole, reflect the genuine awe Judge's performances have inspired in the baseball community.
Judge himself remains grounded amidst the swirling accolades. “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 team-first approach and commitment to consistency.
With less than a third of the season remaining, Aaron Judge is not just on pace for another career year; he is on the cusp of etching his name even deeper into the annals of baseball greatness. As the games wind down, all eyes will indeed be on the Yankees captain, watching to see how high he can elevate his already historic performance.