New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is having an outstanding season, but it hasn’t always been like this.
New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge is currently on a hot streak with his bat, but he recalls a time earlier this season when things weren’t going as well. Judge candidly shares how it felt to be booed by fans at Yankee Stadium in April.
“I can’t let myself get caught up in what people are saying or not saying. I have a job to do, and in New York, you have to deliver every single day,” Judge said, according to USA Today.
“I wasn’t performing, so I understand why there were a lot of questions. Now, it’s behind us.”
Judge began the season in a significant slump, but he now leads Major League Baseball in slugging, according to the New York Post. He also tops the American League in on-base percentage with a .413 mark. The Yankees are currently leading the AL East with a 37-17 record and have won their last four games.
Judge’s season with the Bronx Bombers
Judge has homered in each of the team’s last four games. He’s on an impressive streak, making MLB history as the first player to hit at least 11 doubles and 12 homers in a 20-game span, according to USA Today. The Yankees are relying on his strong offensive performance to build a substantial lead in the division standings, having won eight of their last 10 games thanks to his powerful hitting.
In early April, Judge was struggling. Although New York was winning several games, it wasn’t due to his performance. At the start of the season, Judge couldn’t seem to get a hit, holding a .179 average with only three home runs after the first 21 games, according to USA Today. Fans were frustrated, and it appears he got the message. He’s hit as many home runs in the team’s last three games.
Things may have started to improve on May 2. Judge was ejected from a game for the first time in his career. After striking out, he exchanged words with the home plate umpire while walking back to the dugout and was ejected with his back to the umpire. It was an unusual sequence, but it seemed to ignite something in him, as the Yankees center fielder began hitting much better afterward.
“Got a lot of work to do, a lot of games to play, so we got to keep working,” Judge added. “I don’t look at the past. The most important thing is just staying focused and trying to improve a little bit each day.”
The question now is how long Judge can maintain this hot streak. Some doubt he can sustain it all season, including an unnamed executive from another team. This person thinks Judge’s body will wear out from his constant presence in the Yankees’ outfield.
“You need him for seven months, not six, and eventually fatigue will set in,” the executive told USA Today.
Time will tell how long Judge can maintain this level of performance, but Yankees fans certainly aren’t booing now.
