Aaron Judge’s back-to-back 3-strikeout games in World Series add to troubling record for Yankees captain

The contract signed between Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees in late 2022 was the largest ever dished out to a position player. It was also agreed to on the implicit terms that the slugging outfielder would help bring a World Series back to the Bronx.

However, after a tremendous regular season, the captain has been nearly invisible for his first career Fall Classic. In nine at-bats, Judge only has one hit - a single - alongside three strikeouts in each of the two games. This gives the former MVP a .111 average this series.

"Aaron Judge has a .199 batting average with 85 strikeouts in 55 career postseason games" - Talkin' Yanks

Aaron Judge's struggles have caused fans to criticize the team captain's performance over a longer period, specifically in series and situations where the club's backs have been against the wall. For instance, Judge went just 1-for-16 in the 2022 ALCS that saw his team swept by the Houston Astros.

Perhaps it has been bad memories associated with Dodger Stadium that have hindered Judge's performance. In June 2023, the outfielder tore a ligament in his toe after slamming into an outfield barrier on a flyball against the LA Dodgers. The ailment kept Judge sidelined for nearly two months.

"Aaron Judge's miss rate on sliders this Postseason is 110.0% - 24 misses on 20 swings. It is a World Series record"- Statfax

After hitting 62 home runs in 2022 to set a single-season record in the category, Judge was on pace to shatter his record in 2024. But after surging all summer, the New York Yankees super slugger went on a career-worst three-week stretch without a homer, and finished with 58, a figure that still ranked first in MLB.

Aaron Judge knows his importance to his team

As a player who has carried his team so many times when it has mattered, Judge is under no illusions about what is expected from fans, and his teammates. Following the loss in Game 2, Judge told the New York Post:

“I’ve got to step up, I’ve got to do my job. The guys around me are doing their job getting on base and I’m failing them backing them up.”

An excellent player during the regular season, the time has come for Aaron Judge to prove to dissenters that he has what it takes to lead in October as well.