Aaron Judge May Be Having A Better Season Than His Record-Setting Year In 2022

New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge had one of the best seasons in the modern era in 2022, when he set the American League record for home runs in a single season. 

He hit 62 home runs, drove in 131, scored 133 runs, hit.311/.425/.686 for a 210 OPS+. After adjusting for league factors and park factors, Judge was 110% better than league average. It was a historic level of production that compared favorably to most of Babe Ruth's career statistics.

Somehow, nearly halfway through the 2024 season, he's been even better.

Judge leads the league in doubles with 21, home runs with 25, runs batted in with 62, walks with 55, on base percentage with .437, slugging percentage at .712, OPS at 1.149, OPS+ at 220, and total bases with 173. It's easy to say that he's putting up video game numbers, but at some point, even video games wouldn't simulate that level of production. 

And historical perspective makes Judge's season even more impressive.

May 22, 2024; Bronx, New York, USA;  New York Yankees right fielder Juan Soto (22) celebrates with center fielder Aaron Judge (99) after hitting his second home run of the game in the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Aaron Judge Compares Favorably To Historic Greats

This offensive level essentially hasn't been seen in Major League Baseball since peak Barry Bonds. And that's the peak Barry Bonds who was almost certainly using steroids. 

Bonds in 2003, for example, hit .341/.571/.749, one of the best offensive seasons in baseball history. But because the league's offensive level was higher in 2003 than in it is today, his adjusted weighted runs created plus was 212. This year, Judge's weighted runs created plus is 217. He's been five percent better than Bonds' 2003 season. 

We've already mentioned peak Babe Ruth; so how about comparing Ruth's 1927 season to Judge in 2024? The ‘27 season was when Ruth set the previous record with 60 home runs, part of the Murderer’s Row Yankees team. His batting line was an absurd .356/.486/.772. And after league and park adjustments, his wRC+ was 208. Judge's is 217. 

To this point in the season, Judge has been better than 1927 Babe Ruth.

It's still only mid-June; the MLB season is a marathon that requires health and consistency. But with 93 games remaining, Judge is on pace to come tantalizingly close to a second 60-homer season. And one of the best league adjusted offensive lines in the history of the sport. We're watching greatness; enjoy it.