Aaron Judge Is A Legit MVP Candidate | Don’t Sleep !

From starting in his third career All-Star Game to showing up on baseball’s biggest stages this season, Aaron Judge has done everything in his power to prove he belongs in the conversation for the American League’s Most Valuable Player Award.

 

If it wasn’t for Tim Anderson’s walk-off home run into an Iowa cornfield this past Thursday, Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge would have been the topic of conversation after Major League Baseball’s first ever “Field of Dreams” game  — which saw four home runs hit by MLBbros.

Judge invigorated the Yankees dugout after hitting his second home run of the game, a two-run shot that cut the White Sox lead to 7-6 before Giancarlo Stanton’s homer later that inning would give them the lead.

 

Then came this past Saturday night: If you have been living under a rock, you should know that the White Sox now run the Windy City, and with the team on the North side in rebuild mode, they have become the city’s main attraction.

Fans have packed the park in almost every game since the All-Star break.

That made for a hostile environment in the second game of the series between the Yankees and Sox, but it didn’t phase the unflappably Judge showed who came up colossal once again.

He smoked an 8th-inning fastball 114 MPH over the center field wall for a go-ahead homer in a game the Bronx Bombers would win in extras.

 

That made three home runs in two games for Judge, who ended the weekend by showing off his batter’s yes, also drawing three walks and swiping a bag. 

The Yankees have failed to meet lofty expectations this season, but it isn’t Judge’s fault.

The 2018 AL Rookie of The Year has hit 26 home runs, driven in 63 runs, has a .289 batting average and an OPS of .902. 

In a season where injuries and COVID issues have ravaged the Yankees, Judge has been the main constant on the field and deserves some respect.

Just a little over five years ago to today, Judge along with teammate Tyler Austin hit back-to-back home runs in their first Major League at bats.

Since then, Judge hasn’t lacked in power or in the ability to give Yankee fans a show.

Among MLB outfielders, Judge is tied for first in home runs, sits third in OPS and slugging percentage, fifth in batting average and second in WAR behind 20/20 club member Cedric Mullins.

 

After many thought this would turn out to be a wasted season in the Empire State, the Yankees have stormed back in the standings over the last month as they are now just 5.5 games behind the Rays for first place in the American League East and just 2.5 games back of a spot in the Wild Card play in game.

 

Over the last month Judge is batting .286 with nine home runs, 23 RBI and 18 runs scored.

Judge will get to continue his MVP campaign as well as cut into the Red Sox lead in the AL East standings as they are scheduled to clash three times this week.