NEW YORK – Although he was close to the former Yankees captain, Jorge Posada recognizes many of Derek Jeter’s traits in the current Yankees captain.
“He always says the right thing,” Posada said of Aaron Judge. “He always thinks about the team.”
One can’t help but imagine Judge matching and surpassing his AL record of 62 home runs in a season in 2022; beginning Monday night in Washington, he stands at 51 home runs with 31 games to go.
But as Judge said, when a new mark coincides with a World Series parade, it’s a cause for celebration – although a list of former Yankees champions is already applauding Judge’s 2024 season.
Yankees legends impressed by Aaron Judge’s season
“It is beyond my imagination to see a player of this caliber,” said Hideki Matsui at the 76th Tokyo International.th Yankees Vintage Car Day.
The hard-hitting Matsui, who arrived in the Bronx under enormous pressure after a superstar career in Japan, is impressed by Judge’s consistency through an interpreter.
“I wasn’t nearly as good a player as him,” said Matsui, the 2009 World Series MVP. “But I feel like the way he plays is somewhat his normal state.”
Judge begins the week with an unprecedented streak of success: He is the first MLB player to achieve a batting average of at least .375 and 47 home runs in a 102-game season.
After hitting two home runs on Sunday in the Yankees’ 10-3 win over the Rockies, Judge has seven home runs in his last six games, nine in his last 10 and 19 home runs in his last 36 games since July 12.
“It’s unbelievable,” Jeter said. “It seems like he’s just getting better and better.”
And as Jeter mentioned, he “didn’t get off to a particularly good start,” with a .197 batting average and six home runs in his first 33 games through May 2.
Aaron Judge started slowly, then he rose
Regarding Judge’s start to the season, Jeter said, “He can be a better player, but that doesn’t necessarily mean his numbers will get better.”
“But he’s become a better player and his numbers are better,” Jeter said, while Judge also “continues the legacy and tradition of Yankees superstars.”
“He’s a great representative of this organization,” Jeter said. “And I’m a fan of him and what he can accomplish.”
Judge acknowledged that while it was a great accomplishment to be the fifth MLB player to hit at least 50 home runs in three seasons, it was ultimately unsatisfying if the team goal was not met.
“He’s going to leave a legacy whether he wins or not, because he’s a special player,” said Joe Girardi, Judge’s first manager in the major leagues.
“But personally it would mean a lot to him and he and his teammates gave it their all because there is nothing better than being a champion,” said Girardi.
“You’d love to see that happen to a great player who has such an impact on the game.”
Will Aaron Judge face more teams that are unwilling to pitch against him?
When asked if there were teams still willing to throw Judge at certain spots, Posada said during the regular season, “It seems like teams are trying to evaluate him.”
Things could be different against their rivals in September, and Posada pointed to the Yanks’ remaining series in the AL East against the second-place Baltimore Orioles.
“I try not to think about guys throwing around me or not giving me strikes,” Judge said Sunday. “I just try to get my walks when I can … when you don’t get anything to hit, you pass the ball on to the next guy.”
But in general, “what he does is incredible,” Posada said. “When you hit a fly ball that goes out, it’s impressive.”
“He’s always on time,” said Posada, who compared Judge only to Barry Bonds among the best hitters of his era. In an at-bat, “he gets a pitch and he can hit it.”
This elusive title was finally won by Alex Rodriguez with the Yankees in 2009, his only world championship title.
From A-Rod’s perspective, “Aaron is a real unicorn. I’ve never seen a player like him who looks like an NFL tight end – 6’3”, 280 pounds, less than 10 percent body fat.
“I don’t understand it either, because he makes me look small,” said A-Rod, who also admires Judge’s calm internal clock.
“Not only is he getting better on the field, but he’s a world-class guy as a person – a guy that’s easy to root for,” A-Rod said. “And I think he’s going to be a world champion because that’s all he really cares about.”
“No matter how good the numbers are, Aaron Judge wants to win.”
