6 days ago
A closer look at Aaron Judge's standout season as Yankees reach the All-Star break
NEW YORK – Generally, the reaction to Aaron Judge's latest home run achievement failed to meet the moment.
And that's no knock on anyone in pinstripes who is witnessing the Yankees' captain top his 2024 performance, when he unanimously won the AL MVP award.
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'I don't know what to say about it,' said Yankees manager Aaron Boone, after Judge recently became the fastest player in terms of games to reach 350 career home runs – obliterating the old mark.
'I just think he's playing in a different league.'
Don't ask Judge to frame it with any perspective, either.
He'll look back on it later. Maybe next winter. Or when he's writing his Hall of Fame speech.
'I honestly got nothing," Judge said Saturday of reaching homer No. 350 in his 1,088th career game, surpassing the record of Mark McGwire, who got there in 1,280 games.
Jul 12, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) rounds the bases after hitting a two run home run for his 350th home run against the Chicago Cubs during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
You know the Judge-ian response will be muted, especially after a loss (5-2 to the Cubs).
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'I've been surrounded by a lot of great teammates, been on some good teams,'' said Judge. 'So, they've really put me in the best position to go out and perform my best.''
In the next two weeks, GM Brian Cashman hopes to put Judge and Company in better position to win a world championship – something that's yet to be done in the Judge Era.
Whether or not Judge leads a Yankee team through the confetti-ed Canyon of Heroes will be part of his legacy, and the captain's Octobers haven't matched his magical regular seasons.
But the trajectory of this regular season has vaulted Judge to a superior unique level, with a Triple Crown in play and statistical comparisons to the game's all-time great sluggers.
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Aaron Judge's historic 2025 season to-date
As MLB's highest vote-getter in the initial All-Star balloting phase, Judge arrives at Tuesday's All-Star Game in Atlanta leading the majors in batting average (.354) and OPS (1.195) and second in home runs (35) and RBI (81).
Those 35 homers are the most by a Yankee at the All-Star break, topping his previous mark of 34 set last year.
At age 33, here's where Judge ranks among the home run leaders in Yankees history:
Babe Ruth 659
Mickey Mantle 536
Lou Gehrig 493
Joe DiMaggio 361
Yogi Berra 358
Alex Rodriguez 351
Aaron Judge 350
By sometime in August, Judge could be fourth on this list, between DiMaggio and Gehrig.
And a third MVP would put him with DiMaggio, Berra and Mantle in Yankees lore (A-Rod won two of his three as a Yankee).
Jul 10, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Aaron Judge (99) is doused with water after his tenth inning walkoff sacrifice fly against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Judge's 258 total bases are the most by any MLB player before the All-Star Game since its inception in 1933.
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That also makes Judge one of only five MLB players since 1949 to reach 258 total bases to this point.
His .355 batting average is the third highest of any Yankee to this point since 1958, remarkable for a pure slugger.
And that combination of batting average and power – to this point in a season - ranks him with the likes of only Frank Thomas (35 HR, .357 in 1994), Jimmie Foxx (39 HR, .368 in 1932), and Ruth (36 HR, .362 in 1930; 38 HR, .367 in 1921; 35 HR, .396 in 1920).
The league's Aaron Judge strategy
With two more homers, Judge will crack into MLB's top 100.
But at this home run frequency, with the damage Judge is inflicting on MLB pitching, you wonder if more clubs - especially contenders in the second half - would pass Judge to first base at a higher rate.
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And that includes the Blue Jays strategy of walking Judge with a runner at first base or with none on base, depending on the game situation, as manager John Schneider did in their last series - with Toronto sweeping four games.
"He can flip the script with one swing,'' Schneider recently told MLB Network, after intentionally walking Judge five times in those four games.
"If we can have someone else beat us, that's the way we're going to approach it,'' said Schneider. "I've got a lot of respect of that guy.''
This article originally appeared on Aaron Judge: Closer look at 2025 as Yankees hit All-Star break
