Aaron Judge has been the American League’s best hitter this 2024 MLB season, finishing the season with 58 home runs and 1.159 OPS whilst taking MLB in walks, runs scored, and total RBIs. However, with the regular season closing down, the stats have rest as New York Yankees head into ALDS.
The American League Division series will be played between New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals from October 5 at the Yankee Stadium. Ahead of the big series, captain Aaron Judge’s responsibilities will increase, especially with a negative postseason narrative hovering around his broad and sturdy shoulders.
Will Aaron Judge Transform Into A Clutch Hitter In Playoffs?
Aaron Judge is set to lead the New York Yankees into the 2024 postseason with high expectations as they open the ALDS against the Kansas City Royals. Though Judge’s recent playoff performances have been inconsistent, notably his 1-for-16 showing in the 2022 ALCS against Houston, he enters this year’s playoffs after another MVP-caliber regular season, hitting 58 home runs. Judge faces a unique challenge in Game 1, as he has struggled significantly against Kansas City’s scheduled starter, Michael Wacha. In his career, Judge is just 1-for-18 with 11 strikeouts against Wacha, who has effectively neutralized him better than most pitchers. Despite these struggles, Yankees manager Aaron Boone remains confident in his star player, brushing off the numbers as a “small sample.”
Having said that, the New York Yankees will definitely need Aaron Judge to deliver, especially given their struggles to score more than five runs in any playoff game over the past 15 games. Adding to the challenge, Royals pitcher Seth Lugo, who is expected to pitch later in the series, has also dominated Judge, holding him hitless in eight at-bats. However, despite these obstacles, hitting coach James Rowson believes Judge is in “a great spot” and ready to deliver in the postseason. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman echoed a similar sentiment, calling Judge’s season “superhuman” and hoping that 2024 will finally be the year the Yankees and Judge add a World Series title to their resumes. “That’s something he and we have not accomplished together yet. Hopefully, in 2024, we can finally get back on top of that,” Brian Cashman told media ahead of ALDS.
Why 2024 Postseason Is Different For Judge?
Aaron Judge is entering the 2024 postseason with immense pressure and expectations, especially after closing the regular season with a disappointing 0-for-5 performance that included five strikeouts. With a .211 average and 13 home runs in 44 postseason games, Judge’s playoff legacy has yet to match his regular-season dominance. However, this postseason, Judge has a new partner in crime: Juan Soto.
Since joining the Yankees via trade from the Padres, Soto has been a dynamic force in the lineup, offering support for Aaron Judge in ways that could help both players elevate their performances. As Cashman put it, Judge and Soto form a “pretty incredible dynamic duo,” and they are key to driving the Yankees’ offense through October. Hence, with Soto’s help, the Yankee captain can finally thrive in playoffs.
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