As the 2023 MLB season begins its final stretch, Aaron Judge continues to captivate the baseball world with his exceptional performance. Judge, the captain of the New York Yankees, is enjoying a season that places him among the league's all-time greats. By August 26, he has achieved a remarkable .333/.465/.736 batting line, with 51 home runs and 122 RBIs.
Judge's dominance is evident in multiple statistical categories. He leads the league not only in home runs and RBIs, but also in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and Wins Above Replacement (WAR). With just 31 games remaining in the season, Judge is on pace to achieve several historic milestones.
A Historic Season
Judge is projected to finish the season with 101 extra-base hits and 418 total bases. Such a feat has only been accomplished 13 times in MLB history. Achieving both 100 extra-base hits and 400 total bases in a single season is a rare accolade, further underscoring Judge's remarkable campaign. Additionally, he is on track for 63 home runs this season, surpassing his own previous records of 52 home runs in his rookie season in 2017 and 62 home runs in 2022.
The numbers tell the story of a player whose consistency and power are unrivaled. Judge has hit seven home runs in his last six games and 19 in his last 36 games, a torrid pace that has left both fans and analysts in awe. As his manager Aaron Boone succinctly put it, “I'm kinda running out of words to say. You're witnessing greatness. You really are. He's just kinda better than everyone.”
Approach at the Plate
Beyond his prodigious power, Judge's approach at the plate has evolved significantly. While he still strikes out in 23.4% of his plate appearances, this is an improvement from his 30.7% strikeout rate in 2017 and 25.1% in 2022. His OPS in the 106 games following April 23 stands at an astronomical 1.328, following a slow start to the season where he posted a .174/.308/.337 line by that date.
Judge's ability to adjust and refine his approach is a testament to his dedication and skill. He maintains a .250 batting average and a .413 on-base percentage in at-bats that don't culminate in home runs, demonstrating his well-rounded capabilities as a hitter. Judge himself attributes his success to focusing on the fundamentals, stating, “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.”
Chasing Legends
Judge's 2023 season is drawing comparisons to some of the greatest campaigns in baseball history. For instance, Rogers Hornsby's 1924 season had a 222 OPS+, and both Hornsby and Jimmie Foxx are the only right-handers to boast two seasons with an OPS+ of over 200. Judge had a 210 OPS+ in 2022 and is in contention to join this elite company once again.
Despite the imposing figures and high stakes, Judge remains steady, often facing left-handed pitchers only in 26% of his plate appearances. Such a challenge underscores the difficulty of maintaining consistency against a variety of pitchers throughout the season.
The Road Ahead
As the season reaches its climax, all eyes will be on Judge to see if he can sustain his record-breaking pace. The Yankees’ captain has already etched his name in the annals of baseball history, but he is far from finished. Whether or not he achieves these milestones, Judge's 2023 season has been nothing short of legendary, a performance that has earned the admiration and respect of teammates, opponents, and fans alike.
Witnessing Aaron Judge's season is to witness baseball history in the making. His combination of power, skill, and determination sets a standard for excellence, one that will be remembered and celebrated for generations to come.