Prior to Saturday’s contest against the Phillies, Aaron Judge had gone only 3 for 26 with one extra-base hit and an alarming 14 strikeouts across 32 plate appearances this spring. Coming off a relatively mediocre October performance last year, the 2024 American League MVP was beginning to cause some anxiety for some.
Then, Judge stepped to the plate to face Philly lefty Jesus Luzardo and ripped his first Spring Training roundtripper of the year.
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge
Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Judge’s drive over the left-field wall, which MLB Statcast measured at 381 feet and 107.7 mph off the bat immediately garnered a plethora of reactions on social media.
Illustrating what many have been feeling about Judge recently, @ElGuapoGrandJ on X (formerly Twitter) responded to the two-run blast with “Phew… was getting wee bit worried.”
Urging Yankees fans not to worry, @LiadCohen said “Judge needs about 50 ABs to get going.”
@_dylanharlowfit found it particularly funny that Judge sent the ball “into the ‘Judgement Free Zone’ lmao.”
As alluded to above, Judge won the A.L. MVP award last season, earning the honor for the second time over the past three years. He hit north of .320 while belting 58 dee drives across 158 games.
So, needless to say, Judge deserves the benefit of the doubt no matter how he may look in the early weeks of March. He has more than earned it over the years.
The Yankees begin the regular season at home opposite the Brewers on Thursday afternoon. Judge may have found his potent swing right on time.
