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Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Alex Rodriguez… Aaron Judge. The 25 year old joins one of the most prestigious lists in all of baseball: New York Yankees players to hit at least 50 homeruns in a single season. However, only Judge has achieved the feat as a rookie.
Time to edit the history books!#AllRise for Aaron Judge – the new record holder for most HR by a rookie! pic.twitter.com/KuE2otXn7B
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 25, 2017
Unless you’re the type of sports fan who turns off the television the second you see a clay diamond; this isn’t the first you’ve heard of the new Yankee’s star Aaron Judge. Not only does the 6’7″ 280 lb. behemoth look great in pinstripes; he plays great too. After spending his first few years in the minors rehabilitating various injuries Judge was called up to be the 2017 day 1 starter in right field, and oh-boy, Yankees fans are rejoicing.
The Epic Start to Judge’s Historic Season
Friendly reminder I saw Aaron Judge's first at bat https://t.co/D21rSaEL0s
— x – Brad (@Brad518L) July 11, 2017
He homered in his first at bat. This was the start to a decorated season of 3 American League Rookie of the Month Awards (April, May, and June) as well as an American League Player of the Month Award in June. His stats are easier to gain a perspective on when considering weighted runs created (minimum 500 at bats). His rookie year wRC+ score of 169 to date comes in at number 2 all time, only behind Joe Jackson (1911). Yes, its been over 100 years since baseball has seen a rookie hitter this talented. He isn’t a one trick pony either, Judge sprays homeruns to opposite field all the time.
Aaron Judge with 49 HRs as a rookie… His power to all fields is amazing @Yankees pic.twitter.com/hcakLADyyP
— Daren Willman (@darenw) September 25, 2017
Why Judge Won’t Win MVP… This Year
It isn’t crazy to think Judge could win league MVP this season. He is most certainly in the conversation, however over a 46-game slump this year he hit only .176 with 7 homeruns 17 RBIs and 70 strikeouts. In the 12 games they played against the Red Sox in that span, he hit .087 and was 4-46. There are better candidates in the American League that will most certainly beat him out, but his rookie season is one for the history books.
