Aaron Judge's Swift Start Renewing the Limits of Achievement
Unleashing Judge: Smashing Batting Records, One Homer At-A-Time
Denver - Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees is blazing a trail in the MLB, maintaining a near-.400 batting average for the initial two months of the season, flirting with a mark unseen since Ted Williams batted .406 for the entire '41 season.
Judge doesn't seem to stop, leading in various categories such as home runs (18) and RBIs (47). His stellar start marks one of the best in his already impressive career, a period which only three years ago saw him break the American League and Yankees record with 62 homers, surpassing Roger Maris.
"Yeah, but he's had better two-month periods than this," Yankees manager Aaron Boone admitted at Coors Field.
Indeed, Judge outdid himself last May and June, boasting an OPS of 1.4 compared to his current 1.246. OPS is a combination of on-base and slugging percentage.
After an atrocious April in 2024 with a meager .207 average, six homers, and an .754 OPS, Judge exploded the next two months with an OPS just below 1.4. That's a feat few can claim, with Babe Ruth being the all-time leader at 1.163, and Barry Bonds holding the single-season mark at 1.42 for the '04 season.
"Those are incredible numbers," Judge commented when informed of Ruth's and Bonds' OPS marks that he's currently challenging.
He's already in an exclusive club. He concluded the '24 season with a league-leading 1.16 OPS, and his career mark of 1.022 stands atop active players.
When it comes to batting average, Judge hit .409 in June and .361 in May, but those numbers don't match his current accomplishment, considering the season has now surpassed Memorial Day, and Judge continues to excel, playing in all 52 of the Yankees' games.
Judge's average reflects his 79 hits in 199 at-bats, while his on-base percentage encompasses walks and being hit by pitches.
When asked if he felt this was the hottest two-month period of his career, Judge reassured, "I don't think so. I don't feel too good at the plate right now."
Yet, it appears he's fooling everyone else. "It's always a work in progress," he said.
Pitchers are taking notice, with 34 walks, ten intentional, and two hit by pitches marking Judge's current on-base totals. He's been on base 115 times, providing him with a .487 on-base percentage, and a .759 slugging percentage, both number one in the league.
Despite the attention, opposing managers have been reluctant to pitch around Judge until this weekend when the Colorado Rockies intentionally walked him twice in key situations.
"If he hits a solo shot like the last two games, then so be it," new Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer disclosed. "I'm not going to rule anything out, but he's one of the best hitters in the game. It's respect for him, respect for the game, and respect for the fans to let him hit."
Fans of the game will be keeping a close eye on Judge's performance as the season continues, hoping to witness history being made once again. Who knows, we might see him chase the elusive .400 batting average all the way to the finish line.
In the Major League Baseball (MLB), Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees continues to dominate, leading in home runs (18) and RBIs (47), surpassing some of the best records set in the league. His stellar start in the 202x season has already marked one of the best in his career, rivaling the all-time greats such as Babe Ruth and Barry Bonds.
Having an OBP of .487 and a slugging percentage of .759, Judge is currently at the top of the league in both categories, showing no signs of slowing down. With his 79 hits in 199 at-bats, fans of sports and baseball enthusiasts are eagerly watching Judge's journey, hoping to witness history unfold as he chases the elusive .400 batting average.
