Aaron Judge: The Face of the Yankees, and Still Their Best Hope

Aaron Judge isn’t just the Yankees’ captain — he’s the soul of the franchise. And if New York wants to go anywhere this year, it’ll be on the back of No. 99.

Even after an injury-shortened 2023, Judge remains one of the most feared hitters in baseball. The power hasn’t gone anywhere. The discipline, the clutch factor, the leadership — still elite. His 2022 MVP season may have set the bar almost impossibly high, but when he’s healthy, he’s still one of the five most impactful players in the game.

But that’s the catch: health. With a massive contract and captaincy comes pressure, and Judge’s ability to stay on the field will define this Yankees season. When he’s in the lineup, New York looks dangerous. When he’s out? It’s a different team entirely — and not in a good way.

What sets Judge apart isn’t just the numbers. It’s how he handles the weight of being the guy in the Bronx. He’s calm when the media stirs up chaos. He owns bad stretches. He plays through pain. He leads without making it about himself.

Bottom line: if the Yankees make a deep run in 2025, it won’t be because they spent big. It’ll be because Aaron Judge carried them — again.