LATEST REPORT: Yankees’ Aaron Judge responds to boos after 4-strikeout performance
The New York Yankees faced a 2-0 setback against the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday afternoon, amplifying concerns over star hitter Aaron Judge’s sluggish start to the 2024 season. Despite Juan Soto’s continued success at the plate with two hits in the game, Judge’s performance has been notably disappointing.
In a departure from his usual form, Judge has been struggling to make solid contact, drawing disapproval from Yankee fans who have voiced their discontent with his recent displays. During the loss, Judge endured a challenging outing, striking out four times in as many at-bats, a performance colloquially termed the “golden sombrero.” Consequently, his batting average plummeted to .179, with his on-base percentage at .323 and slugging percentage at .359. While he has managed to hit three home runs and drive in 11 RBIs, his strikeout rate stands at 28.1%, and his walk rate at 17.7%, aligning with his career averages. However, the frequency of impactful contact has noticeably declined, raising concerns about his performance moving forward.
Yankees’ Aaron Judge Responds to the Fans
Aaron Judge hears boos at Yankee Stadium after 0-4 day https://t.co/3xvCzmdmZV pic.twitter.com/OTmSMVOcDz
— Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) April 21, 2024
Judge acknowledged the fans’ reactions after Saturday’s game, expressing empathy for their frustration. “I’ve heard worse, and I’d probably be doing the same in their situation,” Judge admitted.
Despite boasting a 64.2% hard-hit rate and a 27.5% barrel rate last season, Judge’s numbers have notably declined to 48.1% and 11.5%, respectively, for this season, falling well below his 2023 standards.
Currently, Judge ranks in the 12th percentile in whiff rate, the 23rd percentile in sweet spot percentage, and the 22nd percentile with a .218 batting average. His key statistics have suffered a decline, evident in his increased tendency to miss pitches, particularly against fastballs where he’s batting just .200 and even lower, .179, against breaking pitches.
Nevertheless, with Judge, it’s more a question of “when” rather than “if” he will bounce back. As he gradually regains confidence and begins to make more consistent contact, the superstar is anticipated to reclaim and sustain his high-performance level for the remainder of the season. While currently navigating through his first significant slump in three years, Judge’s track record suggests that such downturns should be viewed as rare occurrences for most fans.