Aaron Judge Is Hitting Like a Video Game Character and the Yankees Can't Stop Talking About It

Aaron Boone walked past the scoreboard last Wednesday and did a double take. His captain, Aaron Judge, was sitting on a 1.100 OPS. Not for a week. Not for a month. Judge has now topped that number three of the past four years, and Boone had to stop himself from becoming numb to it.

"It's like, 'How's he doing? Fine,'" Boone said. "It's unbelievable. It really is. So, I do have to catch myself every now and then and just realize how remarkable it is. I really think he's just playing a different game than the rest."

That's not hyperbole. It's just what Judge does.

He's on Pace for 60 Again

A week after Boone's observation, Judge rolled into Wednesday's series finale against Baltimore carrying a 1.047 OPS. Through 43 games, he has 16 home runs. Do the math: that puts him on pace for 60 homers, just two shy of the American League record he set in 2022.

The guy is 34 years old and performing like he's got something left to prove. He's squarely in early contention to win a third straight MVP award. If he pulls that off, he'll be just the third player in baseball to do it, and the first Yankee ever.

The Only Thing Left to Chase

In a decade wearing pinstripes, Judge has basically checked every box. He's the best hitter in the world, the captain of the Yankees, and a walking highlight reel. The title of best hitter in baseball still belongs to him, and it's his to lose.

Three weeks past his 34th birthday, there's really only one thing left that matters: a World Series ring to cement his legacy among the all-time greats of the franchise.

Judge carries that urgency into every at bat. That's what separates him from everyone else swinging a bat in the majors right now.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.