For the ninth time in their last 13 games, the New York Yankees were losers on Thursday (TOR 2, NY 0). Not coincidentally, captain Aaron Judge continued his worst slump of the season. Judge went 0 for 4 with a strikeout and a double play in Thursday's loss and is 0 for 11 with eight strikeouts in his last three games.
During the team's 4-9 stretch, Judge has hit .191/.321/.298 with one homer. Despite the recent struggles, he's still having a strong season overall, slashing .250/.381/.554 with 16 home runs.
Judges Own Assessment
"I'm not doing enough at the plate," Judge said via MLB.com. "...I wouldn't say we're not seeing the ball well. I think it's about making sure we're swinging at the right pitches."
The Yankees have averaged only 3.15 runs per game during their recent 4-9 stretch. As Judge goes, the Yankees go. It has been that way the last several years, and right now, he's not going.
Boone's Take
"He's just going through it a little bit right now," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said via MLB.com. "Usually that means good things are coming on the other side. He's a little in-between. Fastballs got on him, and he was a little out in front of some other pitches...Usually anytime a hitter goes through it, it's a little timing related. I think that's all it is."
What's Behind the Slump
Almost every Judge slump looks the same. It's not because his contact quality suffers—very few players hit the ball harder. It's because his swing decisions fall out of whack. Judge gets jumpy at the plate and starts chasing out of the zone.
There is a mechanical component to this as well. Judge tends to open up too early with his hips when he slumps, putting him in a bad hitting position and a bad position to see the ball.
Historical Context
Prior to this 13-game rut, Judge was on a month-long warpath in which he hit .299/.438/.684 with 13 home runs in 33 games. That is more or less the same Aaron Judge who slashed .311/.439/.677 and won three MVPs with three 50-homer seasons from 2022-25.
In each of the last three seasons, Judge has had a 13-game stretch with a sub-.620 OPS, often multiple. This slump isn't unprecedented for him. It's just baseball.
Looking Ahead
With a hitter this talented, the slump can end at any moment. The Yankees need their captain to right the ship and soon, especially with the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays coming to Yankee Stadium for a three-game series this weekend.
"Anytime you've got a hot team coming in, it's going to make it tough," Judge said about the Rays via MLB.com. "...The offense isn't too far off. You get a couple of timely hits, you get a couple of walks when you need it, and some good things are going to happen. You've just got to get some traffic back out there."