Only 26 games into the MLB season, Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge has quietly had the best start of his career. The slugger has put up video game-like numbers and has elevated his performance at the plate. Despite turning 33 years old a few weeks ago, Judge has shown no signs of slowing down as he is on track to have a third consecutive historic season. If the All-Star remains at a steady pace, he could be looking at a second-straight MVP year.
In April alone, Judge has posted one of his best months in recent memory. The outfielder currently leads the league in batting average with .408, OPS with 1.223 and in hits with 40. To put the numbers in perspective, the second-highest batting average and OPS are currently held by the Cardinals’ Brendan Donovan, who possesses a .366 average and .944 OPS. With far superior numbers, the Yankees All-Star has been nothing short of dominant at the plate. Along with his league-leading stats, Judge is also tied for second in RBIs with 26 and has a career-high slugging percentage of .714. The captain, known for demolishing baseballs, has done exactly that so far — but better.
Judge’s performance has single-handedly kept the team afloat in its early going. His ability to reach base and drive runners in efficiently has granted the Yankees the top seed in the AL East. The reigning MVP currently possesses a 2.2 WAR — which also leads the league — and has proven to be the most important player in Major League Baseball.
Though the numbers alone are MVP caliber, they do not fully capture the level of greatness Judge has displayed. Coming off of a unanimous MVP campaign and a trip to the World Series, Judge is currently on track to surpass his previous numbers. His efficiency and dominance early have been nothing short of exceptional. Judge’s level of play has only improved in recent years and will continue to improve as the year progresses.
While it is unlikely that the outfielder will remain at a .408 average for the rest of the season, it is not hard to imagine a scenario where he finishes with an average above .330. Maintaining his historic pace, Judge will once again run away with the AL MVP. He is simply one of the best the baseball world has seen.
