The New York Yankees are 23-11 and Aaron Judge is the biggest reason why.
The Yankees captain is in the middle of another monster start. His numbers are vintage Judge. The team is winning. The lineup is producing. And the entire American League is once again chasing him in the MVP conversation.
The only question is whether Judge can hold off Bobby Witt Jr. for the award. Witt won the AL MVP last year and is having another monster season with the Royals. Right now he leads most of the early polls. But the gap is closing and Judge has the better team behind him.
Judge Looks Like His Old Self
The version of Judge that won MVP in 2024 is back. His swing decisions are crisp. He is hitting for power to all fields. He is walking at one of the highest rates of his career. And he is doing it all in a Yankees lineup that has finally given him real protection.
Pitchers cannot afford to pitch around Judge anymore. Juan Soto hits behind him. Anthony Volpe has emerged into the everyday star the Yankees needed. The bottom of the order is producing more than it has in years. That lineup depth makes Judge’s individual numbers explode because he gets pitches to hit.
The Yankees are also playing better defensively, which is keeping them in tight games. They were a 90-win team last year that underachieved in the playoffs. They are on pace for 100-plus wins this year.
The MVP Race Is Witt vs. Judge
Witt’s case is the same case he made last year. He plays a premium defensive position. He runs better than anyone in baseball. He hits for average, power, and on-base. He is the best shortstop in baseball and possibly the best position player in the sport, period.
Judge’s case is more traditional. The home runs. The OPS. The RBI. The team’s record. Voters historically love the slugger on the winning team, and that profile fits Judge perfectly.
The wild card is health. Witt has stayed on the field. Judge has missed time in past seasons with various injuries. If Judge plays 150-plus games and posts a 1.000 OPS, he wins. If he misses 25 games and the Yankees fall back in the AL East, Witt wins.
The Yankees Are Built to Win Now
The MVP debate matters, but the bigger picture for New York is October. The Yankees have not won a World Series since 2009. They lost in the World Series two years ago. They got bounced early last fall. The clock on this core, even with Judge under contract for another six years, is louder than people want to admit.
Hal Steinbrenner spent the money this offseason. The roster is the best it has been in years. There are no real excuses if this team does not at least reach the ALCS.
Judge is doing his part. The rest of the Yankees need to keep up.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
