When you’re in the spotlight like Aaron Judge, it seems that losing focus is just not an option. He’s had what many consider to be one of the most disappointing postseasons for a player who hit close to .500.
It’s funny how life at the top can be, isn’t it? Judge has been navigating this for nearly a decade, so perhaps he’s come to terms with it.
People often recount how it took a certain moment for Judge to start being recognized amongst the Yankees’ greats, transitioning into conversations about the best players in this iconic franchise. Forget the fact that he’s won MVP twice, almost clinched a third, led in virtually every statistical category, and set the American League’s single-season home run record.
Heading into Tuesday’s game, Judge had a postseason batting average of .444, but it still didn’t cut it. You could see his frustration. A headline in this paper noted that the Yankees struggled to win with him merely as a singles hitter. And while that might be accurate, it was quite a unique observation.
Critics ranked Reggie ahead of him, even A-Rod, which—ugh—complicated the narrative further. They argued Judge needed a defining moment. The discourse seemed endless.
But now, it feels like that moment has arrived.
His massive home run in Game 3 changed everything. It ignited a Yankees team that had been floundering, marking their victory at 9-6 in an elimination game this October.
To put it plainly, that home run was crucial. It revived their chances when they seemed close to defeat.
The drive was struck more than two-thirds of the way towards the left-field foul pole, a place not many balls reach, and even with the wind blowing against it, it stayed fair—much to the surprise of, well, nearly everyone. It’s as if ghosts from Monument Park helped keep it in bounds, Judge pondered afterward.
The hit came off a fastball pitched at 99.7 mph from the Blue Jays’ best reliever, specifically brought in to handle Judge. It’s clear that the Blue Jays are all too aware of his prowess, often giving him intentional walks.
According to MLB’s Sarah Langs, Judge has seldom hit home runs in such a manner. Some thought the pitch was misguided; he noted that his previous swings at pitches outside the zone were once criticized but now seem lauded.
“I’m not worried about the stats; I’m just aiming to connect with good pitches,” Judge said, reflecting on his approach.
After a slider was fouled, he was back up to bat. The next pitch was similar in speed, but he was prepared. “Just see the pitch and connect.”
And connect he did, sending it soaring. Even if it was nearly stopped by Paul, the effort was impressive.
It was a well-executed pitch, yet Judge made it look manageable. Goldschmidt remarked, “That’s the most impressive swing I’ve seen.” And Jays manager John Schneider agreed, praising the shot.
Others wondered just how many could pull off such a swing—Aaron Boone has been around awhile, but figures like Edgar Martinez and Manny Ramirez even came to mind.
All this said, it’s rare to see someone reach that elite level.
This moment had the makings of legend, shifting the series narrative entirely. Judge is hitting an impressive 7-for-11 in this matchup, with an OPS of 1.805.
Aware of the balance in the series—where the Blue Jays led 6-1 in Game 3—there’s a sense now that anything could happen. Yankees’ Cam Schlitzer is set to face Berland in a rematch, laying the groundwork for potential revenge.
That being said, if Judge falters in future postseason games, his critics will surely resurface. It seems that’s just part and parcel of being a standout player.
