Less than a month ago, Aaron Judge was already being written off by much of the baseball world. Those skeptics couldn’t have been more wrong.
Analyzing Aaron Judge’s Huge Turnaround
After a terrible span that stretched until late April, Judge is back as one of the league’s top players. Judge has been on an absolute tear in the month of May, with a slash line of .393/.506/.902, as well as 7 home runs in 18 games. The Yankees have flourished, going on a 7-game win streak before losing to the Mariners on Monday night.
AARON JUDGE 473 FT NUKE pic.twitter.com/C8MDHLCpkl
— Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) May 9, 2024
But why were critics and fans so quick to jump on Judge, especially considering his incredible bounce-back? Here’s how Judge saved his (and even the Yankees’) season and what may come next.
No Panicking
One of the bigger factors contributing to Judge’s recent hot streak is not making any major adjustments. Instead of revamping his entire swing, the Yankee captain resolved his slump by simply working with his coaches and waiting it out. Even before he got his groove back, it is evident that Judge felt more confident at the plate. You could tell by his at-bats, regardless of the outcome. He began to go deeper into counts, striking out less, and it was just clear that he was regaining his swagger at the plate.
Congratulations to Aaron Judge for being voted the @MontefioreNYC Doing More Player of the Week. pic.twitter.com/Ym2s6FfT3q
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) September 4, 2022
Funnily enough, Judge never stopped getting on base, even when his hitting was poor. He ranked fourth in MLB in walks on April 26, which gave teammates like Juan Soto opportunities to drive him in. He never stopped helping the team, even when he wasn’t swinging his bat like usual.
Aaron Boone Deserves Some Credit
Throughout Judge’s entire slump, manager Aaron Boone was not fazed whatsoever. He repeatedly stated that he was not worried about Judge and would return to form quickly. And now that his prediction has come to fruition, he has nothing but praise for the superstar:
“He’s as good as I’ve ever seen. Whether playing with or managing, handling the ebb and flow of the season. And obviously, part of that is he’s a great player. So, he has the confidence and knows that he will have results.”
People will say what they want about Boone, but the guy knows his players. He focused on other aspects of the team that needed more attention than Judge, allowing him to find his bat on his own time. The result? A team with the best record in the American League (33-16).
It’s Not Over Yet
It’s still only May. At the same time, Judge looks more like himself, and even the man admits there’s still a long season ahead. After his 4-4 day against the Minnesota Twins on May 15, Judge told reporters: “We’re getting there, we’re getting there. Not there yet. Hopefully, we will get there when we talk in November.”
The Judge’s verdict is right. There are 112 games left to go: a long season of baseball where anything can happen. But admittedly, having their captain at his best is exactly what the Yankees need right now.
Main Photo Credits: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
