Aaron Judge Responds to Aaron Boone’s Comments About His Hot Start
New York Yankees star Aaron Judge had a standout performance in Wednesday’s 4–3 win over the Kansas City Royals, going 3-for-3 with a walk, a double, and a go-ahead solo home run in the seventh inning. The home run was Judge’s seventh of the season, tying him for second in Major League Baseball alongside Seattle’s Cal Raleigh, with Tyler Soderstrom of the Athletics currently leading the league with eight.
Following the game, Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised Judge, saying it was the most focused he’s seen him at the plate so far this season. Judge responded modestly, saying, “We’re getting there… If they leave it in the zone, try to take a good swing on it. Try to use the whole field.”
Judge’s numbers early in the season are impressive. Through 18 games, he’s hitting .409 with a .519 on-base percentage and a .803 slugging percentage, giving him a 1.322 OPS. According to FanGraphs, he has already accumulated 1.9 WAR, putting him on pace for another elite season.
Despite this hot start, Judge continues to downplay his own success, a trait that has helped him improve steadily over the years. Since his record-breaking 2022 campaign, he’s continued to evolve as one of the league’s most consistent power hitters and leaders.
With the win over Kansas City, the Yankees improved to 11–7 and moved half a game ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East. They now head to Florida for a four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays, which will be uniquely played at the Yankees’ spring training facility in George M. Steinbrenner Field, as it will serve as the Rays’ temporary home for the series.
