As Aaron Judge continues to dominate the baseball scene, fans and analysts alike are marveling at his extraordinary season. The captain of the New York Yankees is not just leading, but redefining, what it means to excel in Major League Baseball. Manager Aaron Boone captured this sentiment perfectly, stating, “I'm kinda running out of words to say. You're witnessing greatness. You really are. He's just kinda better than everyone.”
On August 26, Judge was batting a remarkable .333, with an on-base percentage of .465 and a slugging percentage of .736. His 51 home runs and 122 RBIs solidify his reign at the top of several key statistical categories, including home runs, RBIs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and WAR (Wins Above Replacement). This remarkable performance is further accentuated by his recent hot streak, where he homered seven times in his last six games and 19 times in his last 36 games.
Chasing History
With 31 games left in the season, Judge is on pace to achieve some rare and historic milestones. Only 15 players have ever recorded 100 extra-base hits in a season, and only 29 players have reached 400 total bases. Achieving both in a single season is even rarer, having been accomplished just 13 times. Judge is projected to finish the season with 101 extra-base hits and 418 total bases, putting him in a league of his own.
His current trajectory also suggests he could end the season with 63 home runs, surpassing his rookie season total of 52 in 2017 and maintaining the excellence he displayed in 2022, when he hit 62 home runs. It’s not just the power numbers that are impressive. Judge has also improved significantly in other facets of the game, such as his strikeout rate, which stands at 23.4%, compared to 30.7% in 2017 and 25.1% in 2022. While the league average strikeout rate is 22.4%, Judge's consistency in making contact has definitely seen an improvement.
Consistency in Adversity
Judge's journey this season hasn't been straightforward. Early in the year, by April 23, his batting line stood at .174/.308/.337. Since then, however, he has rebounded spectacularly, posting a 1.328 OPS in the 106 games following that date. This incredible turnaround is a testament to his resilience and ability to adapt. According to Judge, “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.”
A Season for the Ages
Judge's superiority isn't just in power hitting. His .250 batting average in at-bats that don’t culminate in home runs and a .413 on-base percentage in those same at-bats highlight a well-rounded approach at the plate. These statistics are part of what makes his season so special. It’s also worth noting that Judge has managed to achieve a 210 OPS+ for the season so far, putting him in elite company. Only Jimmie Foxx and Rogers Hornsby have recorded more than two seasons with an OPS+ over 200 among right-handers.
As the Yankees look to make a strong push in the final month of the season, all eyes will be on Judge. With each swing, he brings a sense of history unfolding before our eyes. To borrow Boone's words, we are indeed witnessing greatness. Whether Judge ends the season with the historic milestones or not, he's already cemented this year as one for the record books.