The one glaring thing missing from New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge’s Hall of Fame resume is a World Series ring.
Judge, as all baseball fans know, has had a first-ballot Hall of Fame career which has seen this 6’7″ 282-pound seven-time All-Star right fielder fulfill such achievements as being a three-time AL home run winner (2017, 2022, 2024), twice leading the AL in RBIs (2022, 2024), winning the 2025 AL batting title, being named the 2023 Roberto Clemente Award winner and is a two-time winner (2022, 2024) of the Hank Aaron Award. However, after 10 MLB seasons, the one award left for Judge to win is the World Series Trophy, otherwise known as The Commissioner’s Trophy.
Looking to take that next step after losing in last year’s World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York endured this year an injury-riddled regular season, which ended with the Yankees being a wildcard team and defeating the Boston Red Sox in the best two out of three AL Wild Card Series which went the distance. However, the quest to end the Yankees ugly 16-year World Series drought ended on October 8th at Rogers Centre when Toronto Blue Jays reliever Jeff Hoffman with Judge of first base struck out Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger to clinch for Toronto the AL Divisional Series in four games.
“It just sucks for the guys that this might be their last time wearing pinstripes, not getting a chance to have a long run with them and getting the championship,” Judge said. Judge, who is now 33 years-old went on to add, “I want to get back out there right now. I wish spring training was in a couple of weeks so we can kind of get this going.”
Yankees Aaron Judge Looking For First World Series Ring
Judge Had a Solid Postseason Performance
Throughout his career, Judge has followed up solid regular seasons with disappointing playoff performances.
This year, things were different for Judge, who ended up hitting .500 (13 for 26) with seven RBIs, five runs, two doubles and one home run along with a 1.273 OPS in a total of seven playoff games.
Quite a turnaround from last year, when Judge had only nine hits, eight runs, three home runs, nine RBIs and twenty strikeouts in 49 at bats. Including this year’s postseason stats, judge for his playoff career is hitting .236 with 58 hits, 17 home runs, 41 RBIs and 42 runs scored in 65 playoff games.
“it doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen, and he and I wholeheartedly believe that it will,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said about winning a World Series. “You keep working your tail off to get back to this position and punch through.”
Yankees Cody Bellinger will be testing the free agent market
The Yankees received a significant blow when Bellinger went on record after the team was eliminated in saying that he want to this coming off-season test the waters of free agency.
Bellinger, who is 30 years-old, stressed that he enjoyed his season as a Yankee and that he wasn’t completely shutting the door on returning.
Judge was publicly said that he hopes both Bellinger and another outfielder, Trent Grisham, who is also a free agent, return next season to the Bronx.
“Grish and Bellinger, two guys that had incredible years,” Judge said after that final game against the Jays. “It was fun to watch them, fun to learn from them. I hope we can run them back and see what happens.”
On the season, Bellinger hit 272 with 160 hits, 89 runs, 29 home runs and 98 RBIs. In this year’s playoffs Bellinger only hit 214 with six hits, one home run, four RBI’s and four runs scored.
Meanwhile, Grisham in the regular season hit for a 235 average with 116 hits, 87 runs, 34 home run and 74 RBIs. It wasn’t a memorable post season for Grisham, who had only four hits and four runs in seven games.
Looking ahead, Judge is confident that the Yankees can next season go on a deep playoff run. Yankee fans believe that Judge’s career won’t be complete until he wins the World Series. Only time will tell if that happens.
Main Image: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
