Aaron Judge, the powerhouse of the New York Yankees, has reached a significant career milestone by accumulating 50 Wins Above Replacement (WAR). This achievement places him among the elite hitters in Major League Baseball (MLB), becoming just the 10th active hitter and 14th active player overall to reach this mark.
Joining the ranks of legendary hitters like Mike Trout (86.2 WAR), Mookie Betts (69.2 WAR), and Joey Votto (64.5 WAR), Judge stands out not only for his exceptional performance but also for how quickly he reached this milestone. With fewer MLB seasons and plate appearances than any other player on the 50+ WAR list, Judge’s accomplishment is a testament to his impact on the field.
Among all active players, Judge now ranks 14th in WAR, with only a few elite pitchers, including Justin Verlander (81.5 WAR), Clayton Kershaw (79.9 WAR), and Max Scherzer (75.4 WAR), boasting higher WAR totals.
In 2024, Judge has continued to demonstrate his value, leading the league with 8.6 WAR through 123 games. This isn’t the first time Judge has topped the charts; he led the American League with 8.0 WAR during his Rookie of the Year season in 2017 and led MLB with 10.5 WAR during his MVP-winning season in 2022. Over his career, Judge has posted a WAR of 4.5 or higher in seven different seasons, including a standout 6.1 WAR in 2021.
Judge’s contributions have been pivotal for the Yankees, as he recently surpassed Bernie Williams on the Yankees’ all-time WAR leaderboard, now holding the 14th spot in franchise history and ranking 10th among position players for the storied franchise. His 2022 season remains iconic, tying Babe Ruth’s 1931 performance for the 10th-best season in Yankees history.
As the Yankees captain, Judge has led the team in WAR six times, including three of the last four seasons. With 37 games left in the 2024 season, Judge is on pace to achieve another outstanding year, potentially reaching 10.5 WAR.
Aaron Judge continues to etch his name into baseball history, solidifying his legacy as one of the game’s greats.
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