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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Aaron Judge praised by Hall of Famer as model for future hitters
Aaron Judge praised by Hall of Famer as model for future hitters originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Aaron Judge just snagged his second American League Player of the Month award this season, and Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martinez says it's no surprise. Judge, he noted, stands alone among hitters in how seamlessly he's blended old-school hitting instincts with the new wave of analytics-driven baseball. Advertisement 'Judge is the only guy who's been able to make the transition between pitching and analytics,' Martinez said on 'He's evolving with the way baseball is going, and he'll have a feast with a lot of immature pitchers making mistakes around the strike zone.' New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge stands in the Edmondson-Imagn Images The Yankees slugger has been a force this year, combining raw power with an uncanny ability to adapt. His latest Player of the Month honor, earned after a torrid stretch at the plate, underscores how he's refined his approach in an era where pitchers throw harder, spin rates climb, and defensive shifts adjust by the millimeter. Judge's evolution isn't just about brute strength. He's dominating the chess match between the hitter and the pitcher. Advertisement He reads pitchers' tendencies, capitalizes on mistakes, and leverages data to find the most hittable pitches. This savvy is critical when facing younger, less experienced pitchers who struggle with command and leave balls over the plate. Martinez's praise highlights a key aspect of Judge's game that is underappreciated. He has the rare combination of physical talent and mental agility. While many hitters struggle to keep up with the sport's technological changes, Judge thrives in that environment. If Martinez's prediction holds true, Judge is set to feast on mistakes and maintain his dominance as pitchers try—and most often fail—to find the strike zone against him. And Judge will most likely join Martinez in Cooperstown when he's down dominating the game. Advertisement Related: What Aaron Judge's Personal Story Reveals About His Focus and Fame Related: Yankees Fans Brace for 'Nightmare Fuel' After Latest Injury News This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
MLB Reveals Latest Honor for Yankees Star Aaron Judge
Aaron Judge is off to one of the hottest Aprils of his career, and Major League Baseball just made it official. The New York Yankees' captain was unanimously voted the American League Player of the Month for March/April, marking the 10th time in his career he's earned the monthly honor. Advertisement Judge now ties Alex Rodriguez for the second-most Player of the Month awards in MLB history. He trails only Barry Bonds, who won it 13 times. New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge.© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Judge's latest stretch has been nothing short of dominant. The outfielder slashed .427/.521/.761 with 10 home runs, 32 RBI, and 29 runs scored in 31 games. He led the Majors in batting average, RBI, OBP, slugging, OPS (1.282), hits (50), and total bases (89). He also tied for the league lead in home runs and runs, becoming the second player ever to record 50 hits in the opening month of a season. The only other to do it? Dante Bichette -- Bo's dad -- in 1998. Advertisement Judge, 33, is now one of only four Yankees to collect 50 hits and 10 homers in a calendar month, joining Hall of Famers Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, and Babe Ruth. The hot stretch also included a three-homer, eight-RBI explosion on March 29 against the Brewers—a game that helped the Yankees break their franchise record with nine home runs. It was Judge's third career three-homer game. Judge closed out April on an 11-game hitting streak and has now reached base in 27 consecutive games since April 2. It's the fourth-longest single-season on-base streak of his career. It's also the first time a Yankee has earned AL Player of the Month honors in March/April since Didi Gregorius in 2018. Advertisement For Judge, it's another reminder that he remains the face—and bat—of the Bronx. Related: Is This the Year Aaron Judge Leaves A-Rod Behind in Yankees History? Related: Aaron Judge and the Yankees Make Juan Soto Look Like a Flop
