The numbers that explain Aaron Judge’s level of dominance are plentiful, though some highlight his next-level production more than others.
For example, Judge entered Thursday’s series finale against the Guardians with a .722 slugging percentage, or nine points higher than the league-average mark in on-base PLUS slugging. Or how about the fact that, in his last 99 games, Judge is slashing .380/.507/.836 with 44 home runs and 105 RBI?
The current run that the Yankee captain is on has been absurd, and it has left his teammates as blown away as the thousands of fans that crowd Yankee Stadium on a nightly basis to watch greatness unfold.
“Just historic. It’s so impressive,” Gerrit Cole said after twirling a shutout on Thursday. “You look around the league and see guys with high batting averages…there’s a fair amount of bunt hits and infield hits. This guy’s sitting at .330, and I don’t think he’s had an infield hit all year. They’re all doubles and home runs.
“There's no one that can compare to him, certainly not walking around right now, outside of [Barry] Bonds. What a wonderful experience to have him on my team and be around him.”
Judge is now on pace for 61 home runs, and suddenly, we’re back to where we were two years ago, preparing for a potential home run watch in which Judge would now chase his own American League record.
“I think it’s a whole other level compared to 2022,” Giancarlo Stanton said after going deep himself on Thursday. “It’s gonna be an interesting last five weeks or so. I think he can do it again. He's playing a video game, all of us are out here grinding.”
Stanton is one of the prolific power hitters in the game today, likely to reach 500 for his career, yet is in awe of what Judge has been able to do this season. Simply put, doubting Judge’s capability to make history yet again is not something anyone who watches him up close every day would dare to do.
“Anything is possible with him,” Aaron Boone said. “I think he just wants to be great every day and help us win. Nothing would surprise me.”