Aaron Judge can still rewrite his postseason story — but the Yankees’ time is running out.
In the wake of a remarkable regular season, the New York Yankees’ star finds himself grappling with a persistent narrative as he enters his seventh postseason. Despite his impressive stats, the question lingers: can he perform when it matters most?
Judge stepped into the spotlight on Monday, greeted by a roaring crowd of 48,034 fans, a familiar scene for the player who led Major League Baseball with 58 home runs, 144 RBIs, and 133 walks this season. The atmosphere in the Bronx was electric, reminiscent of his earlier triumphs, including achieving the highest OPS (1.159) in the league for the second time. He faced a favorable situation with runners on first and second and no outs, a setup he would typically relish.
However, this was the postseason, where pressure amplifies every at-bat.
Following two solid at-bats from teammates Gleyber Torres and Juan Soto, who each drew walks against Royals pitcher Cole Ragans, Judge struck out on four pitches, deflating the crowd’s enthusiasm. This performance added to his already concerning postseason strikeout rate of 34.3%, the worst in MLB history for players with over 200 plate appearances.
He managed a walk and an infield single, finishing the night with a 1-for-3 record, bringing his postseason total to 1-for-7. When asked about his performance after the Yankees’ 4-2 loss, he reiterated a familiar sentiment:
“If I’m not hitting 1.000, I’m not feeling good,” he stated.
Judge expressed confidence that he wasn’t struggling due to the Yankees’ bye week, noting he kept up with live pitching during the break.
“You can find two games out of 162 where I go 1-for-6 or 1-for-7,” he remarked.
Yet, the current postseason performance starkly contrasts his regular season achievements. This isn’t May, when Judge hit 14 home runs in 28 games. It isn’t June, when he boasted a .409 batting average and a .514 on-base percentage. It isn’t August, when he walked 25 times in 26 games with a staggering 1.386 OPS. Instead, it’s October, where his career postseason slash line stands at .208/.311/.449 over 46 games.
With at least two more games left in the Yankees’ season, Judge has multiple opportunities to break free from this postseason slump. He is not alone in facing such challenges; many great hitters have struggled in the playoffs.
For instance, Barry Bonds recorded a .196 batting average and a .618 OPS, striking out 20 times with just one home run in his first 27 playoff games. Hall of Famer Willie Mays managed only one home run and a .668 OPS in his postseason career. Currently, Mookie Betts is hitless in his last 22 playoff at-bats, while Bobby Witt Jr., the likely AL MVP runner-up to Judge, is 0-for-10 with four strikeouts in this ALDS.
“You can never count him out,” Soto said, praising Judge. “He’s the greatest hitter of all time right now. He struggled a little bit with the fastball today. But I know he’s going to bounce back.”
If history is any guide, he likely will.
Judge’s remark about hitting 1.000 reflects the high standards he sets for himself, illustrating the immense pressure he feels. He remains committed to refining his skills and adapting his approach. This is not about the pressure of postseason play; Judge has faced numerous high-stakes situations, including breaking Roger Maris’ American League single-season home run record with 62 home runs in 2022. He has navigated the challenges of playing in New York, endured a highly publicized free agency, and stepped into the role of Yankees captain while maintaining his status as a premier hitter.
“The fun thing about the playoffs is facing the best every day,” Jazz Chisholm commented. “Judge is definitely one of the best. I think he enjoys facing all these guys. It helps him mentally because he’s a competitor. We’re all competitors, but he’s the elite competitor.”
His struggles in October could be seen as a phase of growth, a chapter he has yet to write. As the Yankees prepare to face the Royals in Kansas City, tied in the best-of-five ALDS, Judge has a chance to change the narrative. The Yankees’ aspirations for the World Series may hinge on his performance.
