Aaron Judge, the New York Yankees’ standout slugger, continues to amaze the baseball world with his extraordinary performance in the 2024 season.
His former manager, Joe Girardi, who now serves as a broadcaster for the YES Network, recently expressed his astonishment at Judge’s ongoing improvement and success.
Joe Girardi, who managed the Yankees from 2008 to 2017, witnessed firsthand the early days of Aaron Judge’s career. Judge made an immediate impact, hitting a home run in his first Major League at-bat in 2016.
Despite a challenging debut season, Girardi saw the potential for greatness in Judge. By 2017, Judge had set an MLB rookie record with 52 home runs and followed that up with a remarkable 62 home runs in 2022, breaking the American League single-season record.
In 2024, Judge is once again exceeding expectations. As of August, he is batting .322 with 41 home runs and 103 RBIs, leading the league in several key offensive categories. His impressive stats include a .456 on-base percentage, a 1.157 OPS, and a 219 OPS+, ranking him among the top players in the league.
Girardi, who watched Judge deliver a 104.4 mph base hit against the Toronto Blue Jays recently, praised his former player’s ability to adapt and improve. He noted that Judge’s ability to hit fastballs down and away for line drives was a skill he had developed over the years.
Aaron Judge’s growth as a player is evident in his improved performance against breaking balls. In 2017, he batted .212 with a .429 slugging percentage against such pitches.
This year, those numbers have surged to a .263 average and a .609 slugging percentage. Girardi attributes this success to Judge’s ability to lay off pitches outside the strike zone and his disciplined approach at the plate.
As Judge continues to perform at an elite level, comparisons to baseball legends like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig have become more frequent. In a season where he has already surpassed Ruth’s record for home runs hit before July 1, Judge’s performance is fueling speculation about another record-breaking year.
His remarkable power-hitting, combined with his leadership on and off the field, has been pivotal for the Yankees, who are vying for the AL East title and a return to postseason glory.
Joe Girardi’s admiration for Aaron Judge is a testament to the player’s hard work and dedication. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Judge to see if he can sustain this incredible pace and possibly set new records in the annals of baseball history.
