In 2022, Aaron Judge, the powerhouse player for the New York Yankees, participated in 157 games and smashed a record-breaking 62 home runs in the American League.
However, his total plummeted to 37 last year due to injuries to his hip and toe, which limited him to only 106 games.
If Judge had played the same number of games as in 2022, he would have hit approximately 55 home runs last year.
This has become the new standard for him, as most players typically reach their peak with 30 or 40 home runs, but Judge has consistently raised the bar.
Judge epitomizes power in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Speaking of MLB, the official Twitter account of the league recently shared Judge’s projected performance for the 2024 season, according to FanGraphs.
These projections can be considered ambitious, although some may argue that they underestimate his power:
#AllRise and shine! pic.twitter.com/LD5OwEd9ue
MLB (@MLB) February 20, 2024
According to MLB’s projection (courtesy of FanGraphs), Judge is expected to lead the league with 46 home runs and 114 RBI.
Considering he has already hit 99 home runs in the past two years combined, and could have hit more if not for his toe injury in June, this total may fall short in reality.
Having the advantage of batting right behind the OBP-machine Juan Soto will undoubtedly boost Judge’s performance in the second statistical category.
He is also projected to have the fourth-best OPS in the league at .948, and the seventh-best OBP at .386.
With Shohei Ohtani no longer in the American League, these numbers make Judge the clear favorite for the AL MVP race.
He has already claimed this title in 2022.
As for the New York Yankees, their offensive strategy revolves around Judge and Soto leading the charge.
Both players are among the best hitters in the world, and if they have the opportunity to bat consecutively, the Bronx could witness some spectacular displays of skill.
According to the Source thecoldwire.com