Yankees’ Judge not ‘great at the plate’ despite MLB-leading 18 HRs, .395 AVG

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The statistics demand attention. The superstar deflects credit.

Aaron Judge is terrorizing Major League Baseball in May 2025 with numbers that defy logic: A league-best 18 home runs, a stunning .395 batting average, and 46 RBIs. Yet after the New York Yankees demolished the Colorado Rockies 13-1 on Saturday, Judge downplayed his remarkable achievements.

“I don’t feel too great at the plate,” he said. “Always a work in progress.”

This humble assessment comes from the player who became the first to homer in consecutive games during his initial regular-season visit to Coors Field. He’s also mounting a serious challenge at baseball’s first .400 season since Ted Williams accomplished the feat in 1941.

Judge isn’t hunting statistics. He’s pursuing perfection. And it is a scary sign for the Yankees’ rivals. Certainly, MLB teams are taking note of the slugger’s perfectionist edge and willingness to put the bar high.

Powering the Bronx Bombers

Judge’s Saturday home run — a massive 405-foot blast off Rockies southpaw Kyle Freeland — marked his 18th of the season and second in two days at Denver. He had arrived in Colorado having never homered at Coors Field, the only MLB stadium missing from his long-ball resume. That gap closed quickly.

The Yankees captain’s latest shot returned him to the top of baseball’s home run leaderboard, barely ahead of Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Schwarber, and Cal Raleigh in an increasingly competitive race.

If Judge maintains this torrid pace, he’ll become the first player since Joey Gallo in 2017-2018 to lead the majors in homers during consecutive seasons. He’s also positioned himself prominently in American League MVP discussions, once again competing with Ohtani — though now in different leagues.

In characteristic fashion, the Yankees captain has shifted focus away from individual accolades. He’s not concentrating on milestones. He’s emphasizing swing refinements.

“My dad would always give me the quote, ‘If what you did yesterday still seemed big today, then you haven’t done anything today,’” Judge said. “So it doesn’t matter what you did yesterday.”

Not just slugging — hitting purely

Judge’s exceptional season transcends power numbers. His efficiency sets him apart. While batting averages decline and strikeouts increase league-wide, the Yankees slugger defies modern trends.

Through 51 games, he’s batting .395 while flirting with .400 — something many considered impossible in contemporary baseball. His advanced metrics support every traditional statistic. According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, Judge reached 4.4 WAR by May 23 — a figure only 21 position players surpassed during the entire 2024 season.

Judge essentially compiled a top-20 full-season performance in less than two months.

The traditional statistics — average, homers, RBIs — align perfectly with advanced measurements like exit velocity, walk rate, strikeout reduction, and chase rate. It represents a rare convergence where old-school and new-school baseball analyses agree completely. Judge is delivering one of the greatest comprehensive offensive seasons in decades.

The calendar still shows May.

Locked-in, but chasing higher standard

Despite historic production, Judge maintains he’s still adjusting his approach. The terrifying reality for opposing pitchers? He might be correct.

Judge reiterated that he doesn’t feel too great at the plate, saying players must stay ready to hit every single time.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone isn’t surprised by the results but marvels at Judge’s methodology.

“He’s just gotten so good at not chasing,” Boone said. “When you’re not leaving the strike zone, and you have that kind of power, it’s just not comfortable for pitchers.”

Aaron Judge: "If what you did yesterday still seems big today, then you haven't done anything today." #YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/baXVvdA402

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) May 24, 2025

That discipline appeared during Saturday’s fifth inning when Colorado, facing a complete Yankees rally, chose to intentionally walk Judge. The free pass represented his ninth intentional walk this season and Colorado’s admission they preferred pitching to anyone else in the lineup — even with bases loaded or runners in scoring position.

Judge didn’t mind. “If I can get on base for those guys, they’re going to do something special,” he said.

The Yankees scored 10 runs that inning — their second double-digit frame this season — while sending 14 batters to the plate. Judge occupied first base when everything unfolded.

Fan favorite, stadium shaker

During his first regular-season appearance at Coors Field, Judge commanded center stage. His No. 99 jersey filled the stands. He received the loudest cheers and boos from either team. When Colorado walked him intentionally, the crowd erupted in protest — an unusual reaction for a visiting slugger in hostile territory.

“The stadium is great,” Judge said. “Fans always show up in numbers and it’s a packed house.”

Friday brought one home run. Saturday delivered another. Sunday? Don’t eliminate the possibility. This rhythm defines Judge’s season — daily highlights becoming routine.

Legacy on the line?

In just 51 games, Judge has inserted himself into early MVP conversations while producing one of the greatest season starts in franchise and league history. He’s not simply posting video game numbers. He’s making history feel ordinary.

Judge insists the work remains incomplete. This mentality — forward-thinking, concentrated, never satisfied — distinguishes him from his peers. It explains why he’s become one of the most respected captains in Yankees history. Even at his peak, he identifies areas for improvement.

He’s already achieved greatness. In his perspective, the best remains ahead.

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