There can only be one “best” player in baseball.
Despite historical seasons from superstars throughout the league including Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers, one player stands above them all: New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge.
Offensive numbers are down throughout all of Major League Baseball (MLB), yet Judge is breaking records.
How good is he?
For context, the average on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) in the MLB in 2024 was .711. Meanwhile, Judge had a 1.159 OPS. Only one other baseball player recorded an OPS above 1.000, which was Ohtani (1.036).
In addition to OPS, the former Bulldog finished the season leading all of MLB in home runs (58), runs batted in (144), walks (133), on-base percentage (.458), slugging percentage (.701) and wins-above-replacement (11.2), just to name a few.
He also led the league with 218 weighted runs created plus (wRC+), an advanced baseball stat created to quantify run creation based on different ballparks and eras throughout the history of the game.
So how good is that mark? Well, it is the highest mark ever by a right-handed hitter and the seventh-highest mark of all time. Only Barry Bonds (2001, 2003-04), Babe Ruth (1920, 1923) and Ted Williams (1957) have had seasons with a higher wRC+.
If that sounds like a lot to take in, it should. All this to say, Judge produces a lot of offense. He is not just better than the rest of the league, he is in a different stratosphere.
Historical Power
With a home run against the Chicago White Sox on Aug. 14, Judge became the fastest player in MLB history to reach 300 career long balls (955 games played). The previous record was set by Hall of Fame Pirates outfielder, Ralph Kiner in 1953 (1,087 gp).
Hitting home runs in bunches has been a theme throughout Judge’s career. 2024 marked his third season (2017, 2022) that he hit at least 50 home runs in a season, becoming the fifth player ever to reach that mark in at least three seasons.
The other four guys? Ruth, who retired in 1935 and three players linked to steroids: Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire and Alex Rodriguez.
Speaking of steroids, Judge’s 62 dingers in 2022 is the most ever in a single season by a “clean” hitter. It also set an American League record, breaking a 61-year-old record from former Yankee great Roger Maris.
Since MLB started drug testing players in 2003, Judge is the only player to hit at least 60 home runs in a single season. His current teammate and fellow outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, came close in 2017 when he hit 59 as a member of the Miami Marlins.
It would not be crazy to say Judge is one of the greatest power hitters in the history of the game. In fact, it would be remiss to not name him.
What about Ohtani?
Judge is not the only amazing player in the league. Ohtani in his own right is having an other-worldly season, setting records and changing the game as we know it.
One might argue that Ohtani’s ability to change the game on the base paths (59 stolen bases in 2024), in addition to slugging 54 homers, makes up for Judge’s advantage in the hitting department.
What is my response to that? Judge also plays a physically demanding position on the field in addition to hitting every day, Ohtani doesn’t.
This isn’t to take anything away from Ohtani, who in most years would also be showing off as one of the best pitchers in the league. But with him not pitching as he recovers from an elbow injury, the Bronx bomber gets the edge.
Until this season, no player as tall as Judge (6’7”) had ever appeared in 100 games in center field. While his defense is much better in a corner outfield spot, his ability to play all three outfield positions gives the Yankees significant flexibility to add offense throughout their lineup.
Al Things Considered
What does Judge need to do next?
Despite all his success this year and in past regular seasons, he has yet to perform at an elite level when it matters the most.
Entering the 2024 postseason, Judge has had a lackluster .211 batting average with a .772 OPS across 44 playoff games. While he has 13 career postseason home runs, his 66 strikeouts come across as a glaring weakness.
Judge has been arguably one of the best hitters in the 21st century, perhaps even the best with the exception of Bonds. The next step is coming through in October.
If Judge can perform well in the postseason and lead the Yankees on a deep run, perhaps even a World Series title, he can enter all-time legendary status.
For now, he can settle for being the best player in MLB.
