Through 18 games, Aaron Judge has once again shown why he’s the best hitter in baseball. He’s not just playing well; he’s rewriting the book on what’s possible on the plate. In a 4-3 win over the Kansas City Royals on April 16, he had another for the ages, the game winner, a tiebreaking home run in front of 43,720 at Yankee Stadium.
The Numbers That Tell a Story
Aaron Judge’s stats would be a masterpiece if numbers could be art. Through 18 games, Judge leads MLB in batting average (.409), on-base percentage (.519), and slugging percentage (.803). He’s also 1st in the AL in RBIs (21). His latest heroics included a 7th inning solo homer that broke a 3-3 tie and won the game.
“He’s amazing,” said Cody Bellinger, whose diving catch in right field ended the game. “In any situation, he’s going to come out on top.”
It’s too early for pace calculators in mid-April, but if Judge keeps this up, he’s on pace for 63 home runs this season. That would be right up there with his 2022.
A Historic Start to the Season
Judge isn’t just picking up where he left off in 2024; he’s surpassing even his own numbers. After setting the franchise home run record in 2022 (62) and posting career highs in 2024 (58, 144 RBIs, .458 OBP), he’s going even bigger.
“I don’t look at any of that stuff,” Judge said after the game. “I just want to get on base—that’s the biggest thing.”
Manager Aaron Boone agreed. “Nothing’s going to surprise me so I’m not going to put a ceiling on anything he does.”
Game Recap: Yankees vs. Royals
Early Struggles Turn Into Late Wins
The Yankees fell behind early when the Royals scored in the first. But two guys who were struggling stepped up to turn the game around. Anthony Volpe who was 2 for 23, hit a 2 run double in the 3rd. Cody Bellinger who was 1 for 23, hit an RBI double down the 1st base line in the 4th.
The Royals tied the game in the 5th on a Drew Waters single and a Kyle Isbel triple. But the stage was set for Judge to take over.
Judge’s Game Winner
Tied 3-3 in the 7th, Judge came up against John Schreiber. On a sinker cutting across the plate, Judge unleashed his power and hit the ball into the bullpen in right center for his 7th homer of the season.
“It’s the most locked in I’ve felt at the plate,” Judge said. “I was just seeing the ball well.”
Pitching Shines as Yankees Secure Momentum
While Judge got all the headlines, the Yankees’ pitching staff was quietly great. Clarke Schmidt made his season debut and gave up 3 runs in 5 2/3 innings – not bad considering his longest rehab start was 4 innings.
Mark Leiter Jr., Fernando Cruz and Cody Bellinger closed it out. Leiter struck out 2 in 1 1/3 perfect innings and Cruz navigated the 9th before Bellinger ended the game with a diving catch.
“Maikel Garcia reached second and MJ Melendez hit a liner that hooked away from me,” Bellinger said. “But I got it. Those are the moments you live for.”
Yankees Head to Tampa with Momentum
The Yankees finished the homestand 4-2 and are rolling into Tampa. With Judge leading the way and Volpe and Bellinger chipping in, they’re gonna be trouble in the AL East.
“This is what he does every year,” Schmidt said of Judge. “Nothing can stop him.”
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