Aaron Judge's cold stretch raises concern among Yankees fans
Aaron Judge's cold stretch raises concern among Yankees fans originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Aaron Judge reached base twice in Sunday's win over the Orioles, drawing a walk and singling in four trips. That alone would be a productive afternoon for most major leaguers. But when the standard is Aaron Judge in 2024, fans are used to more than just singles and a free pass.
Advertisement
The Yankees captain is now 6-for-30 over his last nine games with 16 strikeouts and just two extra-base hits in that span. His OPS has dropped to 1.195—still the best in baseball by a wide margin, but the lowest it's been since April 21 as he heads into Cincinnati with the Yankees to take on the Reds.
© Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
This recent mini-slump is more about timing than panic. Before the slide, Judge was on a historic tear, slugging over .800 for nearly two months. At one point in early June, his OPS peaked above 1.200, a feat rarely seen in the modern era.
Regression was inevitable.
Still, the dip coincides with the Yankees' broader offensive struggles and searching for answers, Judge's bat carries even more weight.
Advertisement
That's where the concern creeps in—not with Judge's overall production, which remains MVP-worthy, but with how much the Yankees lean on it. Even the best hitters go cold. The question is whether the rest of the order can help pick up the slack while their superstar regains his rhythm.
Judge has struck out at least once in eight of his last nine games, but he's still seeing pitches, drawing walks, and contributing in quieter ways. If this is what a cold streak looks like, most teams would gladly take it.
He's due for another heater. The Yankees just need to keep it afloat until he finds it again.
Related: Former Yankees Slugger Signs Overseas for Remainder of 2025 Season
Related: Latest Injuries to Yankees' Pitching Staff Could Force Action Before Deadline
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
Yankees first-half awards: Aaron Judge for MVP, but who's LVP?
NEW YORK — Will Warren didn't seem worried at all. The bases were loaded. The count was full. Gio Urshela was at the plate, and it was the first inning. Warren reached back and ripped a 94 mph sinker that dotted the outside corner. Urshela didn't swing, the umpire called strike three, and it set the New York Yankees' starting pitcher on a path to yet another big night. Advertisement Warren threw five scoreless innings, striking out seven while walking four, in a 3-0 win over the Athletics at Yankee Stadium on Friday night. The game represented the halfway mark of the regular season for the Yankees, who at 47-34 hold a 1 1/2-game lead in the American League East. And Warren's showing was another example of why he's been the Yankees' rookie of the year for the first half of the 2025 season. Warren has a 5-4 record and a 4.37 ERA, giving the Yankees at least the chance to win just about every day, though he usually offers even more. Over his last four starts, he has a 1.96 ERA. He's allowed three or fewer runs in 13 starts. Warren leads MLB rookies in starts (17) and strikeouts (103). Will Warren, Disgusting Sweeper. 🤮 — Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 28, 2025 Manager Aaron Boone said he wasn't losing faith in the 26-year-old as he walked three of the first five batters he faced Friday, though he did tell the bullpen to have Allan Winans warm up in case Warren couldn't right the ship. 'Honestly a lot of confidence that we don't have to trick 'em,' Boone said. 'He's got the stuff to go right after them.' The biggest difference for Warren this season? 'I feel like he's really starting to use his sinker and his four-seamer really well with a lot of faith in it and in the strike zone,' Boone said. 'He knows he can go in the strike zone with both of those pitches if he executes. He doesn't have to run from contact. Those two pitches really play for him.' Warren has shown that he deserves to remain in the rotation when Luis Gil returns from the injured list sometime after the All-Star break. Here are our other first-half awards for the Yankees. Who else? Judge is in the midst of one of his best seasons, and that's saying something. The 33-year-old is leading MLB in the following categories: batting average (.358), on-base percentage (.458), slugging percentage (.712), OPS (1.170) and fWAR (6.1). Judge's 28 homers are the third-most in baseball. And he hasn't missed a full game. When he was announced as the biggest vote-getter for this year's American League All-Star team, he became the fourth player since fan balloting returned in 1970 to lead the majors in voting at least three times (Ken Griffey Jr., 5; Rod Carew, 4; Ichiro Suzuki, 3). The best player in the game, of course, is the most valuable player on the team. Advertisement LeMahieu brings leadership to the Yankees' clubhouse. He sets an example of how to prepare every day. He has also been the Yankees' least productive everyday player. He didn't debut until May 13 after missing the beginning of the season with a left calf strain. When he first returned, he appeared to be moving better than he had at any point over his last two injury-plagued years. But he's struggled significantly of late. Over 13 games entering Friday, he had posted just a .384 OPS with only one extra-base hit. His season marks of a 92.5 mph average exit velocity and 50 percent hard-hit rate are encouraging. His expected weighted on-base percentage of .304 is not. Fried might start for the AL All-Star team. When the Yankees signed Fried to an eight-year, $217 million deal, the move was almost universally applauded, though some eyebrows were raised at the length. Nobody's questioning it now. The lefty leads MLB in wins with 10, and his 1.92 ERA is second among starting pitchers. He's top 10 in WHIP (0.94) and batting average against (.204). Fried has also become a clubhouse leader in a mold similar to Gerrit Cole. 'Ten wins in half a season is not easy to do, in any era, especially now,' Boone told reporters in Cincinnati this week. 'It's just a testament to how good he's been and how efficient he's been. Needless to say, he's been enormous for us, whether it's coming off a loss or extending a streak. His consistency's been great.' Carrasco's stay was brief but impactful, in the wrong way. The 38-year-old was 2-2 with a 5.91 ERA in eight games (six starts), and it seemed like he just didn't have it anymore in the 16th season of an otherwise impressive career. He made his last Yankees appearance on May 4. Then the team designated him for assignment. He's since hung around Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but he hasn't been good there either, with a 4.95 ERA in six games. Carrasco was a positive force inside the Yankees' clubhouse during spring training and at the beginning of the season, but he didn't get it done on the field.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Knicks Predicted to 'Check In' on Celtics Center This NBA Offseason
Knicks Predicted to 'Check In' on Celtics Center This NBA Offseason originally appeared on Athlon Sports. For a period of time this spring, the New York Knicks appeared to have a real shot at winning the NBA championship. But the Indiana Pacers, their old rivals from the 1990s, were able to end their run in stunning fashion in the Eastern Conference finals. Advertisement As the Knicks continue their search for a new head coach, they also find themselves needing a better bench. Their lack of bench firepower was one reason why they fell short, and they could use another reinforcement in their frontcourt. Center Mitchell Robinson's future with the team is in question, which could mean they need to find a replacement if they decide to move on from him. Ian Begley of SNY feels Al Horford of the Boston Celtics could be an option. "Also, ESPN reports that Celtics veteran Al Horford will have a robust market this offseason," Begley wrote. "I think the Knicks will also at least check in on Horford's situation in Boston." Al Horford is predicted to have a robust market this offseason.© Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images Horford is 39 years of age, but he was still productive this season and could have one more serviceable year left in him. He made $9.5 million this season and will officially become a free agent on Monday, June 30. Advertisement He averaged 9.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 27.7 minutes a game while shooting 36.3% from 3-point range this season. He remains the type of multifaceted role player who can be an asset for a team such as the Knicks that is hoping to win it all. The Knicks haven't reached the NBA Finals since 1999 and haven't won the world championship since 1973. Their trip to the Eastern Conference finals this year was their first since 2000, which was Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing's final year with the franchise. Related: Jason Kidd's Immediate Message To Cooper Flagg Revealed This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Yankees-Pirates Trade Idea Brings Beloved Infielder Back to New York
Yankees-Pirates Trade Idea Brings Beloved Infielder Back to New York originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Yankees ended an embarrassing six-game losing streak with a 7-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday, with home runs from Trent Grisham and Paul Goldschmidt being the recipe for a cathartic win. Advertisement Friday's seven-run outburst equaled the Yankees' total over their previous seven games; the last Yankee team to post 6+ losses with that poor of an offensive run was the 1908 squad. Fortunately, enough offensive trade targets exist that the Yankees can supplement their areas of need with a few savvy moves over the coming weeks. One of those can be found in an old friend in Pittsburgh. Aug 22, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa (7) throws to first base to complete a double play over Cincinnati Reds right fielder Amed Rosario (38) during the fifth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY SportsCharles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who played for the Yankees from 2022 to 2023, has hit to a strong .288 batting average for the Pirates this year, and trade rumors have been swirling due to his impending free agency. Jon Heyman of the New York Post predicted the Yankees could swing a cheap trade for their beloved former infielder. Advertisement IKF's .692 OPS leaves a lot to be desired, but his .333 on base percentage would bode well for the Yankees if they choose to pursue him as a trade deadline option. IKF has made 203 appearances at third base, including 37 at the hot corner during his time with the Yankees. A trade for IKF has a number of benefits: for one, he already has experience playing in the Bronx, which is polarizing for several reasons. Mostly, though, IKF slotting at third base would give Jazz Chisholm Jr daily reps at second base, and alleviate the need for DJ LeMahieu or Oswald Peraza to occupy the four slot. A trade for IKF would hardly be expensive, and it would promise the Yankees another on-base hitter, potentially at the back of the lineup ahead of Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger and Aaron Judge. Advertisement Related: Potential Yankees Trade Target Infielder Nearing Massive Home Run Milestone Related: Yankees Predicted To Trade For $66 Million Infielder After Ugly Loss This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
