TAMPA, Fla. — Aaron Judge has checked nearly every box a baseball player can check. Back-to-back AL MVP awards. A franchise captaincy. A lineup that led the American League in runs and home runs last season. Yet one prize still eludes him, and it eats at him every single day.
“I think I’ll never be satisfied until we go out there and finish it,” said the Yankees slugger, who turns 34 in April and is entering his 10th full season in pinstripes.
That pursuit of a World Series ring shapes everything Judge does. It shaped how he spent the winter. It shaped his early arrival to the team’s spring training complex. And it is shaping a specific tweak he wants to make to his game before Opening Day.
The elbow is no longer a concern
Before any talk of new goals, Judge had to address old business. A strained right flexor limited him to designated hitter duties for much of August last year and weakened his throwing arm when he returned to right field in September.
“That was the toughest thing for me last year,” Judge said after the first full-squad workout of spring training Monday. He admitted there were “tough moments” when he feared surgery might be necessary.
“I was definitely concerned,” he said. “I was trying to do everything I could to be out there.”
Surgery never happened. The Yankees cleared him to throw just two weeks after the season ended. On the advice of the training staff, Judge started his throwing program earlier than usual this offseason. By the time he reached the long-toss phase, he knew the arm was sound.
“It’s feeling great, no issues,” Judge said. “I’ve thrown to bases a couple times already, so no worries. Just excited to get back out there and have the confidence.”
Judge reveals the one thing he wants to sharpen
With the elbow behind him, Judge turned his attention to an area most people do not associate with a 6-foot-7 power hitter: baserunning.
Judge said improving his work on the basepaths “is on my mind” this spring. The logic is simple. The Yankees lineup is stacked. If Judge can put himself in scoring position more often, whether by stealing a base or taking an extra bag on a hit, the damage multiplies.
"Anytime you don't take it all the way and win the championship, you get a bad taste in your mouth."
Aaron Judge talks with @nikilattarulo about the energy in spring training after the Yankees were knocked out by the Blue Jays in the ALDS last season: pic.twitter.com/vq7da4FjaO
“If I can find a way to get myself in scoring position, if they’re going to walk me … then some good things are going to happen,” Judge said.
It is not as far-fetched as it sounds. Judge swiped 10 bases in 2024 and has shown surprising speed for his frame throughout his career. With pitchers forced to be quicker to the plate under the pitch-clock rules, bigger runners have found more opportunities. Even a modest jump in stolen bases could change the math for the Yankees in close games.
Aaron Judge carries a career on-base percentage of .413, the best mark among active major leaguers, and he led all hitters in 2025 with a dominant .457 OBP. While his home run totals draw headlines, it is his patience and command of the strike zone that truly elevate his offensive value. Few power hitters pair slugging strength with that level of consistent on-base production.
Across town, New York Mets standout Juan Soto added a new dimension to his profile in 2025. Known primarily for elite plate discipline, Soto surprised the league by swiping 38 bases, easily surpassing his prior single-season best of 12. Speed surged league-wide, with 21 players reaching at least 30 stolen bases last year. Josh Naylor, whose previous career high was 10 steals, and Gunnar Henderson, who had never exceeded 21 before, were among those who made similar jumps, underscoring the broader trend of offensive versatility that now defines many of the game’s top hitters.
Early arrivals and a captain’s standard
New York Yankees
Judge did not wait until pitchers and catchers reported to get to work. By early January, he was already leading a growing group of Yankees through organized workouts at the Tampa complex.
“The more time we get together, get to kind of gel and be around each other, that’s only going to equal more wins for the Yankees,” Judge said. “I’m always harping on guys about trying to get here early. Let’s put the work in … and good things are going to happen.”
Manager Aaron Boone plans to give Judge more Grapefruit League playing time than usual when exhibition games start Friday. Judge’s preparation for the World Baseball Classic, where he will represent Team USA alongside Yankees teammates David Bednar and Paul Goldschmidt, has pushed him to treat live batting practice sessions as game situations.
Judge is expected to leave camp around March 1 for the WBC before returning for the final stretch of spring training.
Judge embraces the new challenge system
Another wrinkle for 2026 is the Automated Ball-Strike System challenge that MLB is rolling out. Judge said he is “excited” about the technology and plans to pick his spots wisely.
“I’ll find the right time to use it,” he said.
Aaron Judge talks about his curiosity towards the ABS system:
"We'll see how it goes. With our team discipline, I think we'll probably be one of the better teams in the league with it and hopefully get rewarded for it. We just had a meeting about it, I kind of told the guys, be… pic.twitter.com/wql0UGnndo
Judge has long dealt with questionable strike calls below his knees because of his unusual height. He noted that teammate Giancarlo Stanton has been even more affected by the issue. In a team meeting Monday, Judge urged his teammates to use the challenge system aggressively during exhibition games so the Yankees can develop a strategy for the regular season.
“With our team discipline, I think we’ll be one of the better teams in the league with it,” Judge said.
Only one thing will satisfy the captain
The Yankees return most of their core from a 94-win club that fell in the ALDS to the Blue Jays. Re-signed veterans Cody Bellinger and Goldschmidt join a roster that expects ace Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon and Clarke Schmidt back from the injured list at some point this season.
“People might have their opinions on it. We didn’t win it all last year … but we get a chance to get a lot of those guys back who are impact players,” Judge said.
None of it matters, though, without a parade down the Canyon of Heroes. Judge made that plain.
“I don’t get paid to just play this game. I get paid to win here,” he said. “We’ve got to go out and win.”
Stolen bases, a healthy elbow, a new challenge system and a deep roster. Judge has plenty of tools at his disposal heading into 2026. The only adjustment that truly counts, though, is the one that ends with the Yankees hoisting a trophy in October.
Esteban Quinones is a proud graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Growing up just blocks away from Yankee Stadium in Upper Manhattan, Esteban developed a deep love for the New York Yankees, a passion that has been a constant throughout his life. Whether it's cheering for the Yankees or crafting strategic communications, Esteban brings dedication and enthusiasm to producing content around all things Yankees.
