Aaron Judge‘s popularity in Major League Baseball extends beyond his power at the plate, thanks in part to a recent guest appearance on the children’s show “Rubble & Crew,” a spin-off of the hit series “PAW Patrol.” In the episode, the Yankees slugger helped cartoon characters build a ballpark for a home run derby. While the appearance boosted his off-field profile, it coincided with an unexpected slump on the field.
Following the episode, Judge endured one of the toughest stretches of his career. Over 71 plate appearances, he hit just .207, failed to homer, and recorded only four RBIs. The 16-game home run drought marked the longest of his career, sparking concern among fans and the Yankees organization with the playoffs looming.
Social media buzzed with playful speculation about a “PAW Patrol curse,” though the theory lacked weight as Mookie Betts, who appeared on the show in 2021, continued to perform at a high level afterward. Still, Judge’s slump became a hot topic as the Yankees relied heavily on his offensive production.
Despite the rough patch, Judge’s return to form is seen as vital to the Yankees’ postseason hopes. Alongside Juan Soto, his presence has been central to the team’s success in a season marked by lineup inconsistency.
Heading into Friday’s game, Judge’s overall numbers were still MVP-caliber. He held a .319 batting average, with 51 home runs and a 1.136 OPS, keeping him at the forefront of the American League MVP race, though Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr. remains a serious challenger.
Judge’s contributions have played a key role in the Yankees maintaining their division lead, but his recent struggles underscore how crucial his performance is to the team’s championship aspirations. As October nears, the pressure is mounting for Judge to regain his power and help steer the Yankees toward another World Series run.
Judge’s grand slam fires up Yankees fans
Aaron Judge ignited Yankee Stadium on Friday night with a dramatic grand slam, flipping the script for the Yankees in their showdown against the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees’ captain, stepping up in a crucial seventh-inning moment with the bases loaded and his team down 4-1, delivered a powerful swing that sent the ball deep into right field, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Judge’s towering blast on a 2-0 pitch erased the deficit and handed the Yankees a 5-4 lead, which they held for the victory. The win marked New York’s second straight over Boston and extended their lead in the AL East to three games over the Baltimore Orioles.
The grand slam ended Judge’s longest home run drought—16 games—just as the Yankees needed a lift. The home run, his 52nd of the season, came after an uncharacteristic stretch during which Judge’s power had cooled, making Friday’s hit all the more electrifying.
Yankee Stadium erupted in one of the loudest roars of the year, as fans celebrated their star player’s timely heroics against a long-time rival.
Judge, now batting .321 with 130 RBIs and a 1.143 OPS, has put together an MVP-caliber season despite the recent slump. Before Friday’s game, Judge had been mired in a tough stretch, batting .204 over his previous 15 games with 22 strikeouts and no home runs since his two-homer game against the Colorado Rockies on Aug. 26.
The 16-game home run drought was the longest of Judge’s career, surpassing a 15-game streak during his rookie season in 2017. Prior to this slump, he had been on a tear, hitting nine home runs in 10 games, fueling talk about the possibility of breaking his own AL record of 62 home runs set in 2022.
Despite the recent downturn, Judge remains a favorite for his second American League MVP award in three years, solidifying his reputation as one of baseball’s most dominant players.
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