Aaron Judge, the captain’s 2024 campaign was nothing short of phenomenal. He posted a .322 batting average, narrowly missing the AL batting title by 11 points. His 58 home runs and 144 RBIs propelled the Yankees’ lineup, complemented by Juan Soto, into one of the most formidable duos in the league.
His offensive brilliance was critical in leading the New York Yankees back to the World Series for the first time since 2009. This extraordinary season won him his second American League MVP award. Not only that, Aaron Judge has also achieved a mega milestone, which was last hit in 1924 by legend Rogers Hornsby.
Aaron Judge Makes History in 2024
Aaron Judge, the New York Yankees’ towering superstar, once again etched his name into baseball history books in 2024. Winning the American League MVP for the second time in his career, Judge showcased a season for the ages, highlighted by an astonishing Weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+) score of 218—an achievement unmatched in the last century. The wRC+ metric, a modern analytic tool, underscores the historical significance of Judge’s season. This statistic adjusts a player’s Runs Created to account for factors such as ballpark and era, offering a balanced measure of offensive performance. A wRC+ of 100 is league average, while Judge’s 218 indicates he was over twice as effective offensively as an average hitter.
For context, the only season comparable in the last 100 years was Rogers Hornsby’s legendary 1924 campaign, where he recorded a wRC+ of 214. Judge’s 2024 season places him in an elite echelon of right-handed batters. According to MLB’s Sarah Langs, his wRC+ surpassed legends like Mark McGwire in 1998 (205) and Frank Thomas in 1994 (205). It even edged out his own remarkable 2022 performance, which earned him his first MVP award with a wRC+ of 206. Beyond the analytics, Judge’s consistency has been a hallmark of his career. With a lifetime .288 batting average and 315 home runs to his name, he is a six-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger Award winner. His ability to combine power with discipline at the plate makes him one of the most feared hitters in baseball today. Comparisons to Rogers Hornsby, who played 23 seasons and boasts a lifetime .358 average with 301 home runs, highlight the rarity of Judge’s achievement.
Judge Elated With Unanimous MVP Decision
Aaron Judge, the face of the New York Yankees, has once again proven why he is considered one of the greatest players of his generation. The 2024 season saw Judge claim his second American League MVP Award. His MVP victory was unanimous, receiving all 30 first-place votes after leading the Yankees to their first World Series appearance since 2009.
Paired with teammate Juan Soto, Aaron Judge formed one of the most dynamic duos in MLB. His league-leading numbers were staggering: a .322 batting average, 58 home runs, 144 RBIs, and a 1.159 OPS. Additionally, he led in key metrics such as walks (133), game-winning RBIs (24), and Wins Above Replacement (11.2).
Stay tuned with Sports News International for more such updates about your favorite MLB team
