Former Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who worked with Aaron Judge during his early years from 2016 to 2017, is in awe of his power and leadership qualities. He called the Yankees slugger and captain “very dangerous” while speaking to NewsDay.
“What I’ve seen is that he’s learned to lay off the chase breaking ball and swing at the hanger. And he’s very dangerous,” the former Bronx boss told about Aaron Judge.
Giradi provided an in-depth analysis of the slugger’s current performance and highlighted Aaron Judge’s notable progress, comparing his statistics from 2017 to his current numbers. The ex-manager observed that in 2017, Aaron Judge batted .212 against breaking balls with a .429 slugging percentage. This year, his average has risen to .263 with a .609 slugging percentage. He credited this improvement to the slugger’s enhanced ability to lay off breaking balls out of the strike zone while capitalizing on mistakes.
Additionally, Girardi noted a decrease in Aaron Judge’s whiff rate on breaking balls, from 50% in 2017 to 41% this year. He pointed out that this 9% reduction results in more contact and increased damage when the Yankees captain connects with the ball.
“In 2017, he batted .212 on breaking balls with a .429 slug,” said Girardi. “He’s hitting .263 with a .609 slug [this year]. He’s always hit fastballs, but to me that [adjustment to breaking balls] has been the biggest improvement. And what you’ve seen is that in 2017, his whiff rate on breaking balls was 50%. This year it’s 41%. But that’s a substantial difference. Because that means for every 100, he’s hitting nine more of them. And if he hits it, it’s damage . . . because he has learned to lay off pitches. This is the lowest his strikeout rate has ever been. And that’s scary. A guy with his power to have almost average strikeout percentage, that’s a scary thought.”
Girardi also raised concerns for opposing teams, highlighting that the 2022 MVP’s current strikeout rate is the lowest of his career. He described the combination of Aaron Judge’s power and his improved strikeout rate as a daunting challenge for pitchers.
“I mean, I don’t think he had the ability when he first came up to necessarily hit a fastball down and away for a line drive over the second baseman’s head like he did,” he said. “But he does now, and you’re like, ‘Come on, man. Really?’ ”
Judge’s impact is reflected in the Yankees‘ standings, where they are tied with the Baltimore Orioles for the AL East division lead, each team holding a 67-46 record. Girardi’s analysis sheds light on his development as a hitter, emphasizing the technical advancements that have contributed to his MVP-caliber season.
Girardi once compared Aaron Judge to Derek Jeter
In an interview with Kevin Harvick on MLB Network, former Yankees manager Joe Girardi compared the leadership styles of Aaron Judge and Derek Jeter. Girardi described both players as quiet leaders who prefer one-on-one communication with teammates, avoiding public reprimands and taking on a big-brother-like role.
Girardi noted Aaron Judge’s thoughtful habit of waiting for all teammates to enter the dugout before offering his congratulations, highlighting the subtle yet significant impact of his leadership. He characterized their approach as non-confrontational and supportive, drawing clear parallels between Judge and Jeter in their leadership styles.
The former manager praised Aaron Judge’s ability to lead by example while forming strong connections with his teammates on both professional and personal levels. Girardi emphasized that the Yankees could not have asked for a better leader.
Girardi’s remarks underscore Aaron Judge’s crucial role in the team, linking his leadership to the Yankees’ successful history under Jeter’s captaincy. With Jeter leading the Yankees to five World Series titles, Girardi’s comparison raises the question of how many championships the current captain might help secure during his time as captain.
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