News
Aaron Judge Wins First American League Batting Title
Sep
Growing up, Aaron Judge admired hitters like Barry Bonds, Miguel Cabrera, and Albert Pujols — not just for their power, but for their ability to consistently hit over .300. Now, Judge has joined that elite company, winning his first American League batting title with a .331 average.
While analytics have shifted focus away from batting average in recent years, the stat still holds personal meaning for Judge. To him, it represents consistent, disciplined hitting — something he takes pride in.
Hitting With Purpose
Judge gave fans a glimpse of his approach in the fourth inning of Sunday’s game against the Orioles. He started a rally with a leadoff single. Cody Bellinger followed with another single, and Giancarlo Stanton capped the sequence by driving Judge home with a third consecutive hit. The Yankees went on to win 3–2.
“If I’m up there just trying to do damage, maybe that rally doesn’t happen,” Judge said. “I think trying to be a good hitter is infectious. It’s contagious. One hit leads to another — and more winning.”
A Place Among Legends
After the game, Yankees manager Aaron Boone presented Judge with the game ball and reminded him of the elite company he now joins.
“I said, ‘Tony Gwynn, Rod Carew, Wade Boggs — you’re in that company now. Pretty cool,’” Boone shared. “To see him finish like this, especially after being on the IL and struggling a bit when he came back, says a lot. He carried us through the final month.”
Two-time batting champ and former teammate DJ LeMahieu also texted Judge to congratulate him.
A Historic Season
Judge finished the 2025 regular season with:
- .331 batting average
- 53 home runs
- 114 RBIs
- 1.145 OPS
At 6-foot-7, Judge is now the tallest player in MLB history to win a batting title. With a third MVP award potentially on the horizon, he could soon join Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle as the only Yankees with three MVPs.
Looking Ahead: Playoffs and the Bigger Goal
Despite the personal accolades, Judge remains focused on one thing: winning a championship. It’s the one achievement that still eludes him.
The Yankees now face the Boston Red Sox in the Wild Card round on Tuesday in the Bronx. If they advance, they’ll have to go through the Toronto Blue Jays next.
“I could sit and chase numbers,” Judge said, “but I’m here to help this team win games. That’s what matters most.”
