Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Even in a Home Run Slump, Aaron Judge Is Doing MVP Things

Is slump really the right word?

Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

When is a slump not really a slump? When you’re Aaron Judge, apparently.

The Yankees’ superstar has launched just a single home run in his last 17 games, a relative power outage for a man who belted 62 homers in 2022 and almost matched the 60-homer mark again in 2024 with 58 home runs. But calling this a “slump” requires some serious mental gymnastics when you look at the complete picture.

During this same 17-game stretch, Aaron Judge is slashing an otherworldly .426/.533/.541. He’s reaching base in more than half his plate appearances while hitting well over .400. Most players would sacrifice their favorite bat for those numbers over a week, let alone nearly three weeks of play.

The Yankees’ captain is off to a truly phenomenal start in 2025, even without the protection of Juan Soto, or an injured Giancarlo Stanton. Through the season’s opening weeks, Judge is batting .411 with seven home runs, 25 RBIs, 22 runs scored, and has even swiped three bases. His .505 on-base percentage isn’t just elite, it’s historically absurd.

And then Judge swipes second. Bro is doing everything 😭 pic.twitter.com/AZ60dC1cKh
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) April 23, 2025

As Paul Hemekides recently pointed out on social media, Judge now owns a 1.214 OPS over his last 162 games dating back to April 17, 2024. Only two other players in the past 25 seasons have maintained a 1.200+ OPS over a 162-game span: Barry Bonds (2000-04) and Sammy Sosa (2001-02), both of whom faced steroid allegations.

Aaron Judge owns a 1.214 OPS over his last 162 games dating to April 17, 2024…

1.200+ OPS over 162-game span
(last 25 seasons):

Aaron Judge (2024-25)
Barry Bonds (2000-04)💉
Sammy Sosa (2001-02)💉
— Paul Hembekides (Hembo) (@PaulHembo) April 21, 2025

The statistics get even more mind-boggling. Over those same 162 games, Judge has produced a slash line of .343/.473/.739 with 63 home runs, 137 runs scored, and 159 RBI. The only other player in MLB history to reach all those marks in any 162-game span? The immortal Babe Ruth.

ALSO READ: Mike Trout’s Three-Word Response to Aaron Judge as Team USA Captain Says It All

Aaron Judge’s trophy case will only continue to expand. Already a two-time MVP (including the defending American League MVP), six-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger, and former Rookie of the Year winner, his career numbers are rapidly approaching legend status. He currently carries a career .291 batting average with 322 home runs and could reasonably reach the 350-homer milestone later this season.

AARON JUDGE.
THREE HOME RUNS.
ARE YOU SERIOUS?! pic.twitter.com/XsvEP6dNvO
— MLB (@MLB) March 29, 2025

Even in yesterday’s narrow 3-2 loss to the Guardians, Judge went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate and added a stolen base for good measure. And it’s only fair to mention that his home run total would be higher if not for being robbed of one earlier this season in Tampa.

ALSO READ: “Audacity”: Aaron Judge Denied Home Run in Controversial Moment and Aaron Boone Was Not Having It

So call it a home run slump if you must, but when the “slumping” player is still performing at a historic level in virtually every other offensive category, perhaps we need a new word for whatever Aaron Judge is doing right now.

Aaron Judge

Yankees

Mohsin Baldiwala

mlb

Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.