Aaron Judge has spent over a decade within the New York Yankees system, embodying the franchise’s relentless pursuit of championships. Since his early days in A-ball, Judge has been driven by one clear goal: win the World Series. That mentality has been ingrained in him from day one.
“Since I was drafted in 2013, it’s always been about winning in New York,” Judge explained ahead of the Yankees’ final regular-season game. “That championship mindset has been drilled into us from the start. If you don’t win, then what’s the point?” According to an interview with ESPN, this philosophy has been central to Judge’s time with the Yankees.
Postseason challenges begin
Despite securing the American League’s best record and home-field advantage for the postseason, Judge’s October struggles continued in the Yankees’ ALDS opener. The Bronx Bombers edged out a 6-5 win over the Kansas City Royals, but Judge went hitless in four at-bats, striking out three times. His postseason batting average since 2020 remains a lowly .135, with 28 strikeouts over 18 games.
Even the Yankee Stadium crowd, normally Judge’s biggest supporters, showed their displeasure after his strikeout with runners in scoring position during the sixth inning. The frustration stems from his past playoff performances, particularly last year when Judge was heavily booed during the postseason.
The Yankees are now just 10 wins away from ending a 15-year World Series drought. For Judge, success in October has never been just about personal accolades. Yankees manager Aaron Boone emphasized this during the ALDS.
“There’s no doubt he’s one of the greatest Yankees,” Boone said. “But his focus is on winning a championship. That’s what drives him.”
Despite baseball being a team sport, Aaron Judge is quick to put the pressure on himself. He has admitted that he carries the weight of the team’s failures on his shoulders, particularly when they fall short in the postseason.
“I take a lot of responsibility when we don’t win,” Judge said. “I feel like it falls on me.”
This isn’t new for Aaron Judge. In 2022, after a historic regular season with 62 home runs, Judge slumped in the playoffs, going 1-for-16 in the ALCS as the Yankees were swept by the Houston Astros. The prior year, an injury kept him out for two months, and the team missed the playoffs entirely. The weight of unfinished business lingers for Judge year after year.
At 32, Aaron Judge is already on a Hall of Fame trajectory. A six-time All-Star and team captain, his place in Yankees history is already secure. From his 52 home runs and Rookie of the Year award in 2017 to setting the American League home run record in 2022, Judge has cemented his legacy. His number 99 is sure to be retired someday at Yankee Stadium. But the one thing missing from his resume is a World Series ring.
In 2024, Aaron Judge posted one of the most remarkable seasons by a right-handed hitter in MLB history. He led the league in multiple offensive categories, including home runs, RBIs, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. Together with Juan Soto, Judge formed one of the most lethal one-two punches in baseball since Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. But despite his individual success, Judge remains focused on the bigger picture.
“We play to win,” Aaron Judge said. “I don’t play for MVPs or individual awards. You play to win the trophy.”
For Aaron Judge, this desire to win is reinforced each summer at the Yankees’ Old Timers’ Day. The 2024 edition celebrated the 2009 Yankees, the last team to bring a championship back to the Bronx. Judge hopes to soon join the likes of Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, and the other legends who lifted that title.
Former Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who led the 2009 team, believes that Aaron Judge’s legacy is already set in stone. However, Girardi also acknowledges how much winning a championship would mean to Judge personally.
“He’s a special player, with or without a ring,” Girardi said. “But there’s nothing like being a champion. It creates a bond for life.”
The road to a World Series
Juan Soto, who won a World Series with the Washington Nationals in 2019, has seen firsthand how badly Judge wants to win.
“He talks about it all the time,” Soto said. “From the day I joined the team, it’s been about winning a championship for the Yankees.”
While the 2024 Yankees have their flaws — including defensive lapses and poor baserunning — they are well-positioned for a deep postseason run. With the Houston Astros eliminated, the path to the World Series looks more favorable. Aaron Judge has also grown as a clubhouse leader, helping to unite the team through adversity. Last month, when the Yankees hit a rough patch, Judge called a players-only meeting. The team responded, going on a winning streak that helped secure their division lead.
But now, it’s up to Aaron Judge to deliver on the field. Seven years after his rookie season saw the Yankees fall one game short of the World Series, Aaron Judge has another opportunity to lead the team to their 28th title.
“Wearing pinstripes here, it’s about winning the World Series,” Aaron Judge said. “A season isn’t really a success unless you’ve won it all.”
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