Fresh off a stellar 2024 season in which he was named the American League MVP, Yankees slugger Aaron Judge has picked up right where he left off this season. A little over a month into the 2025 season, Judge has been virtually unstoppable at the plate. 

Juan Soto and Cody Bellinger Praise Aaron Judge 

So far this season, Judge leads the Majors in batting average (.384), hits (33) and RBI (25). The six-time All-Star has also mashed seven home runs, good for third among MLB sluggers. While Judge’s dominance is nothing new, his blistering start to the 2025 season has certainly turned heads. Even his former teammate Juan Soto donned Judge as “the best hitter in baseball.” 

 

Judge’s new teammates are impressed by his game, too. 

“It’s truly amazing,” said Cody Bellinger, the Yankees’ prized offseason trade acquisition. “I just feel like, in any situation, he’s going to come out on top. He’s the best player on this planet, and it’s fun to watch.”

The comments made by Soto and Bellinger are certainly high praise, but they aren’t without merit. 

After one of the best offensive seasons by a right-handed hitter in the history of baseball in 2024, Judge has somehow been even better to start this campaign. 

Already, Judge has been worth roughly 15 runs above average on offense this season. For comparison’s sake, Pete Alonso had fewer runs created in the entire 2024 season. Amazingly, over his last 162 regular season games, Judge has hit .346 with a .479 on-base percentage, .740 slugging percentage, 62 home runs, 139 runs and 160 RBIs.

Aaron Judge Is Getting Better 

According to Codify Baseball, Judge is just the second player in MLB history to hit all of those marks over any 162-game span. The only other player to achieve the feat is Babe Ruth. In light of his scorching start to the year, Judge said that he’s focused on being a table-setter for his team and finding ways to get on base.

 

“I want to get on base. That’s the biggest thing, hitting in the middle of the order and hitting second a lot,” Judge said. “I’ve got to touch first base. That’s my job; touch first base and let the guys behind me do their thing, and if there’s guys out there on the pond, try to drive them in.”

 

It’s still early, but if Judge can continue his current pace, he could join an exclusive list of Triple Crown winners. Plus, he could contend for his second straight AL MVP award.