Aaron Judge is among the biggest names in modern-day baseball. There is a very good chance that he will win the American League MVP again this year. He is on pace to break his own record of 62 homers that he hit in the 2022 regular season. Previously, that record helped him to win the MVP that year and sign one of the biggest free-agent deals. After the California native won the MVP in 2022, the New York Yankees signed a massive extension over nine years worth $360 million. Then, the NY side made him their 16th captain in franchise history, succeeding Derek Jeter.
With Jeter, the Bronx Bombers had won five World Series championships. But so far, with Judge, the wait is still on. Hence, as the new captain of the 27-time champions, Aaron Judge must lead the team to one or multiple championships to cement his legacy in pinstripes. Over the years, the California native has established himself as a modern-day great. But even the great Judge is not devoid of superstitions.
Former Yankees Catcher Revealed A Weird Ritual Of The NY Side’s Captain
Last week, Kyle Higashioka, a former Yankees catcher, said during the ‘Foul Territory’ podcast that every day, Aaron Judge likes to put his left sock on first. Then, the catcher was being honest, saying, “Whatever Judge does, I try to do that too. Then, his left sock ritual, I do that too now.” Higashioka explained the fixed notion of the superstar slugger related to wearing his socks. The 2022 AL MVP just kept repeating the order in which he put his socks on. The former Yankees catcher noted that Aaron Judge may have talked about his superstitions in a separate interview. Other than the sock ritual, the superstar outfielder has another one where he chews bubble gums in a specific way.
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In a different interview, the Yankees captain mentioned that he chews a couple of gums, and then he might change them depending on if he’s unable to get a hit in his first at-bat. Higashioka has played alongside Judge from 2017 to 2023 until the Yankees traded him to the San Diego Padres during a trade that saw superstar Juan Soto joining the Bronx Bombers. Moreover, in those six years, Kyle only managed a .210 average with 40 home runs and 121 RBIs, wearing the Pinstripe uniform. But six years is a long time duration when the catcher could stay as a teammate of a modern-day great and learn many things, including, superstitions.
Aaron Judge Going Through A Minor Slump
Well, the kind of season, the California native has been enjoying this year makes a minor slump look like a big deal. Aaron Judge was on pace to hit over 63 home runs this year with more than 30 games to go after the series win over the Colorado Rockies. However, since August 25, the Yankees captain has not managed to send a pitch long. Over a seven-day stretch, it seems weird that the 2022 AL MVP can go without hitting a home run.
Now, only 25 games are left until the regular season gets over, and Aaron Judge is projected to hit 60 home runs. Since August 26, the Yankees have been 2-4. This bad run of the team has coincided with Judge’s bad stretch. Hence, the Yankees captain must start hitting home runs very soon.
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