Despite his impressive season, Aaron Judge's slow start in the playoffs has reignited the narrative that he struggles in October. But with the Yankees' World Series hopes hanging in the balance, Judge remains determined to rewrite his postseason story.
Amidst the euphoria of his spectacular regular season, Aaron Judge has stumbled upon a familiar pitfall in his seventh career postseason: failing to deliver in October. Through the first two games of the American League Division Series, the Yankees slugger has struggled at the plate, striking out on four pitches in his first at-bat and going 1-for-7 overall.
The scene for Judge's first at-bat on Monday was eerily familiar: a screaming crowd of 48,034 fans, paying homage to a player who had shattered records with 58 home runs, 144 RBIs, and 133 walks during the regular season. But despite the palpable excitement, Judge's struggles in October, where he has a career batting average of .208, cast a shadow over the moment.
Aaron Judge's Postseason Slump: A Tale of Infamy and Redemption
"I think you can go back in the season and find two games out of the 162 that I go for 1-for-6, or 1-for-7 or whatever," Judge said after the Yankees' 4-2 loss on Monday.
While Judge acknowledges his poor performance, he insists he's not frustrated and believes he can turn things around. "I'm confident in my ability," he said.
Judge's struggles are not without precedent. Even the greatest hitters have faced adversity in the playoffs. Barry Bonds, despite his regular season brilliance, struggled early in his postseason career, batting .196 with a .618 OPS through his first 27 playoff games. Willie Mays, a Hall of Famer, managed just one home run and a .668 OPS in his 25 career playoff games.
Even Mookie Betts, one of the best hitters in the game today, is hitless in his past 22 playoff at-bats. Bobby Witt Jr., the presumptive AL MVP runner-up to Judge, is 0-for-10 with four strikeouts in this ALDS against the Yankees.
"You can never count him out," said Juan Soto, Judge's teammate. "He's doing his thing. He struggled a little bit with the fastball today. But I know he's going to bounce back."
Judge's resilience is well-documented. After posting a staggering 44% strikeout rate in his MLB debut in 2016, he made adjustments and won the AL Rookie of the Year award the following season. Despite a slow start to the 2023 season, Judge emerged as a dominant force, setting an MLB record with 62 home runs and becoming the clear favorite for his second AL MVP award.
Judge's struggles in the playoffs might be a narrative that he is still developing. With the Yankees' season on the line, he has an opportunity to rewrite his October story and cement his legacy as one of the greatest hitters of all time.
The Yankees and the Royals are tied 1-1 in the ALDS, heading into Game 3 in Kansas City. If Judge can break out of his slump, it could give the Yankees the momentum they need to advance to the next round.
