.311 Batting Average, .425 On Base Percentage, .686 Slugging Percentage, 1.111 OPS, 177 hits, 62 home runs and 16 home runs. Those are the stats that earned Aaron Judge the 2022 AL MVP award and 9 year, $360 million contract to return to the New York Yankees.
Judge even turned down a $415 million contract with the San Diego Padres because Judge wanted to build his legacy in New York.
So what are the expectations for Aaron Judge for the 2023 season?
Well 14 games in, Aaron Judge has .294 Batting Average, .373 OBP, .608 Slugging, .981 OPS, all above league average, adding 5 home runs as well.
Many might say that Judge needs to live up to his 2022 season or even surpass it.
It is unrealistic to think that Aaron Judge will hit 62 home runs again, but I think his statistics won’t be too far off from his 2017 or 2022 season, his two healthiest seasons. But production isn’t the issue or the expectation for Aaron Judge.
here is only ONE expectation for him, to win a World Series. Don’t believe me? Hear it from Aaron Judge.
“I’d rather be in a good position in the playoffs and holding up a World Series trophy than holding up an MVP trophy.”
Aaron Judge is the 16th Captain of the New York Yankees, and since Babe Ruth, the 7th captain, every Yankee but 2 have won a championship.
Don Mattingly and now Aaron Judge. Don Mattingly is revered by Yankee fans as being a bright spot in dismal years. Don Mattingly won an MVP during a time when the Yankees weren’t making the playoffs.
Judge is different, during his time with the Yankees, they have been perennial playoff contenders, but in 2017, 2019, and 2022, they have been slayed by the Houston Astros in the ALCS, the last round before the World Series.
The previous Yankees captain, Derek Jeter, won 5 World Series and whether it is fair or not, that will be the lens that people will view Judge in. Can he bring a championship back to the Bronx?
Share This Post On
0 comments
Leave a comment
You need to login to leave a comment. Log-in
