Aaron Judge's Historic Season Continues Unabated
With a mere 31 games remaining in the regular season, Aaron Judge is putting together one of the most remarkable campaigns in Major League Baseball history. The New York Yankees captain continues to astound fans and critics alike with a performance that defies the usual boundaries of greatness.
As of August 26, Judge has compiled an extraordinary .333/.465/.736 batting line accompanied by 51 home runs and 122 RBIs. Not only does he lead the league in home runs and RBIs, but he also tops the charts in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and Wins Above Replacement (WAR). These towering stats place Judge in elite territory, as he is projected to achieve 101 extra-base hits and 418 total bases by season's end. Such a feat has only been accomplished 13 times in the history of the sport.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone summarized the sentiment surrounding Judge’s season succinctly: “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 recent performance seems almost otherworldly, having hit seven home runs in his last six games and 19 in his last 36 outings. He is on pace to end the season with 63 home runs, potentially surpassing his remarkable 62-home run season from 2022.
Judge's ability to maintain such a scorching pace is particularly impressive when considering his early season struggles. By April 23, his batting line was a pedestrian .174/.308/.337. However, since then, his On-base Plus Slugging (OPS) in the subsequent 106 games skyrocketed to an astounding 1.328. This turnaround underscores Judge’s resilience and adaptability as a player.
In contrast to his rookie season in 2017, where he posted a 30.7% strikeout rate, Judge has managed to reduce this figure to 23.4% this year, just slightly above the MLB average of 22.4%. His improved plate discipline has been a crucial factor in his sustained excellence. It is worth noting that Judge’s 2022 season also saw a significant dip in strikeouts, recording a strikeout rate of 25.1% while maintaining a 210 OPS+.
Furthermore, Judge’s performance doesn’t hinge solely on his home-run prowess. His non-home run at-bats yield a respectable .250 batting average and an impressive .413 on-base percentage, showcasing his all-around skill as a hitter. The combination of power and precision makes Judge’s current season one for the ages, reminiscent of legendary campaigns by all-time greats Jimmie Foxx and Rogers Hornsby. In fact, Hornsby’s remarkable 1924 season saw a 222 OPS+, a figure that puts Judge’s 2022 OPS+ of 210 into historic context.
Achieving both 100 extra-base hits and 400 total bases in a single season is an incredibly rare accomplishment, recorded just 13 times in MLB history. As Judge nears this threshold, he is set to join an exclusive club, further cementing his status as one of the game’s greats. Reflecting on his performance and the relentless pursuit of excellence, Judge said, “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’s humility and team-oriented approach speak volumes about his character, complementing his undeniable talent. As the season marches toward its conclusion, fans and analysts alike will watch with bated breath to see how many records this singular talent will rewrite. In every at-bat, Aaron Judge continues to redefine the limits of possibility, delivering a season that will be remembered for generations to come.