Aaron Judge named AP male athlete of year after setting HR mark
NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge has all the time stood out.
With the imposing measurement and muscular body of an NFL tight finish or NBA energy ahead, the 6-foot-7, 282-pound New York Yankees slugger towers over teammates and opponents on the diamond.
Never extra so than in 2022.
After hitting 62 house runs to interrupt an American League report that lasted six many years, Judge has been voted The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year by a panel of 40 sports activities writers and editors from news shops throughout the nation.
The outfielder edged Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani, final yr’s winner, in voting introduced Friday. Stephen Curry of the NBA champion Golden State Warriors completed third.
Judge joins an esteemed fraternity of honorees that features Jesse Owens, Muhammad Ali, Wayne Gretzky and Michael Jordan. Among the previous Yankees to win have been Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris — the person who established the earlier AL mark of 61 homers in 1961.
“Wow. That’s incredible,” Judge said of his selection. “All these other great athletes that not only impacted the game and their sport, but also impacted their communities and the culture in the sports world and outside the sports world. So getting a chance to be amongst that list is an incredible honour.”
Judge hit 16 extra homers than some other huge league participant, the biggest hole since Jimmie Foxx hit 58 for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1932 and Babe Ruth had 41 for the Yankees.
And whereas Barry Bonds holds the foremost league report of 73 house runs in a season for San Francisco in 2001 throughout baseball’s steroid period, the achievement by Judge had some followers celebrating what they view as baseball’s “clean” benchmark.
Maris’ mark had been surpassed six instances within the National League — however all these gamers have been finally stained by steroids. Mark McGwire hit 70 homers for St. Louis in 1998 and 65 the next yr. Sammy Sosa had 66, 65 and 63 for the Chicago Cubs throughout a four-season span beginning in 1998.
McGwire admitted utilizing banned steroids, whereas Bonds and Sosa denied knowingly utilizing performing-enhancing medication. Major League Baseball didn’t start testing with penalties for PEDs till 2004.
“It’s an incredible feat,” Yankees proprietor Hal Steinbrenner mentioned.
Judge’s astounding season was about extra than simply energy, although.
Partly due to accidents to teammates, the rocket-armed proper fielder shifted to heart a lot of the season and supplied his regular sturdy defence in each spots. With the Yankees lacking DJ LeMahieu on the prime of the lineup, Judge batted leadoff on the finish of the common season — which additionally maximized his plate appearances whereas pursuing Maris’ report.
He even stole 16 bases, seven greater than his earlier profession excessive.
“He’s every part,” Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone mentioned. “An wonderful two-way participant, one of many nice gamers in our sport. He’s an envoy for the sport.”
With a vivid, toothy smile that he can’t maintain again at instances, the 30-year-old Judge led the majors in runs (133), on-base share (.425), slugging share (.686), OPS (1.111), extra-base hits (90) and whole bases (391). He tied for the large league lead with 131 RBIs and completed second within the AL with a .311 batting common, falling a number of factors wanting a Triple Crown.
And to not be neglected, No. 99 in pinstripes performed in 157 of 162 regular-season video games, carrying the Yankees to their second AL East title in 10 years.
“That’s one of the things I love about Aaron: He’s a gentle giant in his interactions with people and kids and whoever, he’s kind and gentle, but he is going to rip your heart out between the lines,” Boone mentioned. “He plays the game with energy, but with a coolness and a swagger and an intensity.”
Judge simply beat out Ohtani, the pitching and hitting phenom, in AL balloting to turn into the tallest MVP in main league historical past.
Without a doubt, it was one of many best particular person seasons in baseball annals. All whereas enjoying for a brand new contract and shouldering the large weight of chasing Maris within the second half.
“I don’t think there’s one person that didn’t marvel at that,” Steinbrenner mentioned. “It’s wonderful. Because it wasn’t simply the stress of the house run chase. It was the stress of, you understand, what’s to come back?”
Just earlier than opening day, Judge declined New York’s provide of $213.5 million over seven years (2023-29) and guess huge on himself. He turned a free agent in November and cashed in, getting a $360 million, nine-year contract to re-sign with the Yankees — the third-largest deal in baseball historical past.
Once it was performed, he was appointed the group’s sixteenth captain, and first since Derek Jeter retired following the 2014 season.
“Everything about him just screams out leader,” Jeter mentioned. “And everybody says the very same factor.”
Judge hit his 62nd house run within the penultimate recreation of the season Oct. 4 at Texas. With opponents pitching fastidiously to him, his solely homer within the earlier 13 video games got here when he matched Maris on Sept. 28 in Toronto. No. 60 got here on Sept. 20 in opposition to Pittsburgh.
As he approached the report, MLB Network reduce in for stay protection of Judge’s at-bats. Fans stood up when he stepped to the plate, going quiet on every pitch whereas taking images and video with their cellphones.
“That was a weird experience,” Judge said, chuckling. “Definitely a different scene. But glad I finally got past it. It was definitely a relief.”
After the Yankees gained a playoff spherical, Judge went 1 for 16 and the group was swept within the ALCS by the World Series champion Astros. The four-time All-Star has by no means reached the Series, and New York hasn’t gained a pennant since 2009.
“There’s a lot of unfinished business here,” he mentioned.
Back in 2017, Judge slammed 52 homers to set a rookie report that was quickly damaged.
Now with the report and massive contract, all eyes will likely be watching his encore in 2023.
“You never know. Maybe 62 is my floor,” Judge said of expectations. “Maybe I’ve got a little bit more in the tank.”
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