Aaron Judge To Make Grapefruit League Debut On Saturday
The New York Post's Greg Joyce reports that New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is set to make his Grapefruit League debut this Saturday, March 1, against the Houston Astros. Nothing is wrong with Judge physically, but the Yankees wanted to give him a little extra rest after the team's World Series run last fall. Manager Aaron Boone said on Wednesday that he plans to hit Judge in the No. 2 spot in the lineup this year now that Juan Soto is playing for the New York Mets. The 32-year-old two-time MVP will also be moving from center field back to right field, which will be less stressful from a physical standpoint. Judge is firmly in play for a top-three overall fantasy selection in drafts this spring after leading the league in WAR (10.8), homers (58), RBI (144), walks (133), on-base percentage (.458), slugging percentage (.701), OPS (1.159) and total bases (392) in 158 regular-season games in 2024.
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on Foul Territory on Wednesday that he's planning to return outfielder Aaron Judge to the No. 2 spot in the lineup this year. Boone explains that it makes sense with the Yankees' lineup being left-handed heavy, especially with outfielder/designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (elbows) currently sidelined. The skipper said that infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. and outfielder Cody Bellinger are candidates to hit in the three-hole, although it could be someone else with a left-hander on the mound. Judge hit in the No. 3 spot last year with Juan Soto in the two-hole, but now that Soto is out of town, Judge will return to second in the batting order in the Bronx. Chisholm or young outfielder Jasson Dominguez are the primary options to hit leadoff. Judge won the American League MVP in 2024 and is a top-five fantasy asset.
Aaron Judge To Be Held Out Of Spring Games Until March 1
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge and catcher Austin Wells will be held out of Grapefruit League games until around March 1, according to manager Aaron Boone. "He played 150, 160 games last year. I don't want to rush him," Boone said. The Yankees are just giving the 32-year-old MVP a little extra time off his feet after he played in 172 total games between the regular season and playoffs last year. With Juan Soto now playing for the Mets, Judge won't have as much protection in the lineup in 2025 and will also be moving back to right field, which won't be as taxing physically. Judge got off to a slow start early on last year but eventually found his footing to finish with a .322/.458/.701 slash line, 1.159 OPS, a league-leading 58 home runs and a league-leading 144 RBI in 158 regular-season games. He's a no-doubt top-three fantasy pick this year.
Aaron Judge Open To Playing In 2026 World Baseball Classic
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge said he's open to playing in next year's World Baseball Classic, which would be his first time participating in the event. "I think that'd be pretty fun. It'd be cool to represent your country. [Team USA] made it to the finals, but they didn't win it. So we gotta win it. We'll see," Judge said. It's probably not what fantasy managers will want to see, but the six-time All-Star, two-time MVP and former American League Rookie of the Year will still most likely be one of the top fantasy options on the board next spring. Judge led the league in WAR (10.8), home runs (58), RBI (144), walks (133), on-base percentage (.458), slugging percentage (.701), OPS (1.159) and total bases (392) in 158 games for the Yankees in 2024 and is in play for the first overall fantasy pick in drafts this spring, even while losing protection in the lineup in the form of Juan Soto.
Aaron Judge Likely Moving Back To Right Field In 2025
New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said on Monday at the MLB winter meetings that it "makes sense" to move outfielder Aaron Judge back to right field in 2025 after failing to re-sign superstar outfielder Juan Soto in free agency. And with Judge likely going back to right field, outfield prospect Jasson Dominguez is a leading candidate for starting center-field duties. The 32-year-old Judge's outfield positioning likely won't matter to most fantasy managers. A toe injury in 2023 limited the power-hitter to only 37 long balls and 75 RBI in 106 games, but the six-time All-Star bounced back in a big way in 2024 to win his second MVP award by leading the league in homers (58), RBI (144), walks (133), on-base percentage (.458), slugging (.701), OPS (1.159) and total bases (392). RBI opportunities might not be as plentiful with Soto now in Queens, but otherwise Judge is an elite class of power.
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge was named the 2024 American League Most Valuable Player on Thursday night after receiving all 30 first-place votes for the award. It's Judge's second career MVP award as he beat out the Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. and teammate Juan Soto. The honor was well-earned, as Judge led the majors in home runs (58), RBI (144), OPS (1.159) and wins above replacement (11.2) this year while spending most of his time in center field in the Bronx. He also led the Yankees back to the World Series, although they fell short against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Judge's 223 adjusted OPS was the highest for a right-handed hitter since 1900, according to ESPN research. He becomes the seventh Yankees player to win multiple MVPs, joining Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Alex Rodriguez and Roger Maris.
Major League Baseball announced the 2024 American League Silver Slugger winners on Tuesday on MLB Network. The winners in the AL were Blue Jays 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Astros 2B Jose Altuve, Royals SS Bobby Witt Jr., Guardians 3B Jose Ramirez, Yankees OF Aaron Judge, Yankees OF Juan Soto, Orioles OF Anthony Santander, Royals catcher Salvador Perez, A's DH Brent Rooker and Rangers UTIL Josh Smith. It's the fourth time that Judge has won an AL Silver Slugger award in his career, this time coming two years after he set a new AL record with 62 home runs. He only had 58 long balls in 2024 but also posted career-highs in on-base percentage (.458) and slugging percentage (.701). The 32-year-old superstar's 1.159 OPS was the best from a qualified AL hitter since Mark McGwire back in 1996 when he was with the A's.
Aaron Judge Tallies Two Hits, Two RBI In Game 5 Loss
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge went 2-for-3 with two walks and two RBI in their series-clinching loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Judge opening the scoring with a two-run shot in the first inning which also scored outfielder Juan Soto. This was his first round-tripper of the World Series and only third of the postseason. Later in the eighth inning, Judge hit a double to left field. Judge finished his postseason run with an underwhelming .184/.344/.408 slash line with just five extra-base hits and a 11:20 BB:K ratio.
Aaron Judge Homers, Drives In Three In Game 2 Victory
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge went 1-for-3 with a sacrifice fly and a two-run home run, tallying three RBI in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Guardians in Game 2 of the ALCS. It was Judge's first home run of the 2024 postseason after belting 58 during the regular season. The Yankees have been able to go 5-1 through six playoff games despite the 32-year-old going 3-for-18 (.167) thus far. The 6x All-Star has managed to collect six walks as well though, which has led to a solid .346 OBP. We'll see if Tuesday's long ball gets his bat going again, with his next opportunity to come in Game 3 in Cleveland on Thursday, likely facing LHP Matthew Boyd who Judge is 2-for-6 with a home run, five walks, and zero strikeouts against in his career.
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge will head to the bench on Friday in the series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Yankee Stadium a day after the team clinched the American League West title with a decisive win over the division-rival Baltimore Orioles. In that contest, Judge hit a home run for the fifth straight game. Trent Grisham will start in center field on Friday and will bat seventh against Pirates rookie right-hander Jared Jones. Judge is having another fantastic season in 2024 and currently leads the AL in home runs (58), RBI (144), walks (133), on-base percentage (.461), slugging percentage (.708), OPS (1.169), OPS+ (226) and total bases (392) in 157 games played. His .325 batting average (180-for-554) is third in the AL, so he still has a shot to win the AL Triple Crown with only three games remaining in the 2024 season.
Aaron Judge
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