Aaron Judge

New York Yankees superstar outfielder Aaron Judge and his wife, Samantha Bracksieck, announced the birth of their daughter, Nora Rose, on Wednesday.

Judge revealed the news of their first child's birth, which occurred on Jan. 27, via Instagram.

Congratulations to Aaron Judge and his wife Samantha on the birth of their daughter, Nora Rose! 🫶

(via thejudge44/IG) pic.twitter.com/uqtFXoDIpw

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) February 5, 2025

"What an incredible week it's been, can't wait for the memories the three of us make," Judge wrote.

On Jan. 25, Judge was honored by the Baseball Writers' Association of America at its annual awards dinner after winning his second MVP award.

However, Judge could not attend the dinner, explaining why in a video message.

“I’m truly grateful and will cherish this moment forever.”

Aaron Judge accepts the 2024 AL MVP Award! pic.twitter.com/VTAq2dXkWK

— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) January 26, 2025

"I'm truly humbled to be accepting the 2024 AL MVP Award," Judge said. "I want to start by apologizing for missing the awards dinner this evening. However, my wife, Samantha, and I are expecting our first child any day and unfortunately could not make it."

"Any day" was on the mark as their daughter was born just two days later.

Per Hannah Sacks of People Magazine, Judge and Bracksieck met at Linden High School (California) before heading to Fresno State. The two were married in Dec. 2021.

After Judge tied Roger Maris' American League record of 61 home runs in 2022 (en route to 62 total), Judge gave much credit his wife for her perseverance and calm nature, per Jaclyn Hendricks of the New York Post.

"My wife has been with me through it all and she's calm as a cucumber, that's for sure," Judge said.

Now the happy couple has welcomed their first child. This will certainly mark a busy time for Judge, as he's set to report for the Yankees' first full spring training workout on Feb. 17.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone offered an update on what he was thinking regarding the team's lineup configuration heading into the 2025 campaign after some major offseason changes, including the loss of Juan Soto in free agency.

"We'll try and get Jasson Dominguez up to speed in left," he said during an appearance on WFAN (h/t Phillip Martinez of SNY). "Cody Bellinger probably in center with Trent Grisham in the mix there too. If Giancarlo Stanton has a day off or I want to DH Aaron Judge, I feel good moving Bellinger wherever. Ideally, I don't want to move Dominguez as much. On a day [Giancarlo] is out, Judge is DH, I can move Bellinger over [to right field] and throw Grisham in center and keep Dominguez in left. We'll see how it all shakes out."

As for the infield, Boone said, "Right now I would have Jazz Chisholm Jr. at second. Then Oswaldo Oswaldo Cabrera and DJ LeMahieu and even Oswald Peraza are vying in the mix for that third base."

Paul Goldschmidt will ostensibly handle duties at first base, while Anthony Volpe should remain the starting shortstop and Austin Wells the primary catcher.

As for the lineup configuration, Boone said Chisholm could potentially serve as the leadoff hitter, but Domínguez is in the mix as well.

"Domínguez's DNA is that because he gets on a lot and has power and can really run, too," he said. "That's a positive. But he has a DNA that gets on while Bellinger and Jazz with their power and bat-to-ball, will play well in the middle [of the lineup]."

One possible configuration could be as follows if Domínguez proves effective in the leadoff role:

1. Domínguez
2. Judge
3. Bellinger
4. Stanton
5. Chisholm
6. Goldschmidt
7. Volpe
8. Wells
9. LeMahieu/Cabrera/Peraza

Expecting a 21-year-old with just 26 games of MLB experience to immediately serve as the leadoff hitter on a contender is no small ask, of course. The Yankees may end up with a revolving door atop the lineup.

"We're very left-handed, so it just depends who solves that leadoff spot and if it's one guy, or one guy vs. a righty, one guy vs. a lefty," Boone said. "I would prefer one guy... a perfect world you love rolling them out. The biggest thing is trying to have a guy that is getting on base at a high level in that No. 1 spot."

The Yankees pivoted well after losing Soto to the New York Mets and resolved a number of their most pressing needs this winter. Still, there remain a few uncertainties for the Bronx Bombers as they look to return to the World Series.

A ball from one of the pivotal moments of the 2024 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees sold at an auction held by Major League Baseball.

MLB announced the winning bid for Aaron Judge's dropped ball in the fifth inning of Game 5 at Yankee Stadium sold for $43,510 on Thursday.

After losing the first three games of the series, the Yankees were able to stave off elimination with an 11-4 victory in Game 4. A win in Game 5 would have sent the series back to Los Angeles and put the pressure back on the Dodgers.

It looked like things were going in favor of the Yankees to start Game 5. They took a 5-0 lead after three innings, with Judge hitting a two-run homer in the bottom of the first. Gerrit Cole was cruising with four no-hit innings to start the game.

Then came the fifth inning. Enrique Hernández led off the frame with a single for the Dodgers' first hit. Tommy Edman followed with a soft liner to center for what should have been a routine play, but the ball hit off Judge's glove to put two runners on with no outs.

Judge is not able to make the grab on that one, and the Dodgers have 2 on with nobody out!

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/S8c5QGQljm

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 31, 2024

Cole looked like he would get out of the situation unscathed after striking out Gavin Lux and Shohei Ohtani, but he failed to cover first on a grounder to Anthony Rizzo that scored one run.

The Dodgers followed with a two-run single by Freddie Freeman and a two-run double by Teoscar Hernández that tied the score. The Yankees did go back on top in the sixth with a sacrifice fly from Giancarlo Stanton, but the good vibes were short-lived.

Los Angeles responded in the eighth by scoring two runs to take a 7-6 lead. Walker Buehler closed out the game with a perfect ninth to seal the win and give the Dodgers their second World Series title in the past five seasons.

Judge's blunder was one of many defensive miscues for the Yankees throughout the playoffs, but his play was going to get more of the headlines by virtue of being the biggest star on the team.

It didn't help matters that Judge struggled with the bat throughout the postseason, despite his first-inning homer in Game 5. He hit just .184/.344/.408 with three homers in 14 games.

The Yankees captain was named AL MVP for the second time in three years after a terrific regular season, but there is a bubbling narrative about his playoff struggles that had another chapter added to it after his fifth-inning error in Game 5.

Juan Soto says he hasn't spoken with any of his former New York Yankees teammates, presumably including Aaron Judge, since the team lost Game 5 of the 2024 World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"I haven't talked to any of those guys," Soto said on Thursday, the day after finalizing a 15-year, $765 million contract to join the New York Mets. "We've talked to them through the playoff, at the end of the playoff, but after that... I haven't talked to any."

Juan Soto has not spoken with any of his Yankees teammates since the end of the World Series pic.twitter.com/5OoikmrAbi

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) December 12, 2024

The Yankees lost out in a bidding war with the Mets after offering Soto $760 million over 16 years, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman.

Soto told reporters on Thursday that he would say he had a good experience with the Yankees since joining the team following his 2023 trade from the San Diego Padres.

"I feel like they did that they had in their power to help me out, to bring me back, but I have other four teams doing the same thing and trying to make me feel comfortable," Soto said.

"At the end, we look at everything. We look at the chances and we look at what other teams wanted to do, and what everybody wants to do for the next 15 years. And I think we have the best chance to win here."

Juan Soto with some insight on why he chose the Mets over the Yankees.

"I think we have the best chance to win here." pic.twitter.com/ZUwaRZYE8s

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) December 12, 2024

Soto also thanked Yankees fans during his first interviews as a Met.

"I want to say thank you," Soto said. "I actually just want to say thank you to them. They really showed me all the love, and everything that they have, last year. They were right there, day in, day out. They really have a spot in my heart at the end of the day.

"Tough that we couldn't get it together, and try to be back, and stuff like that. But definitely, I'm always gonna appreciate what they did for me in 2024."

Juan Soto gives a message to Yankees fans:

"I want to say thank you. They really showed me all the love and everything that they have. They have a spot in my heart." pic.twitter.com/gonEbM9ILY

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) December 12, 2024

The Red Sox offered Soto approximately $700 million over 15 years, per Sean McAdam of MassLive. The Dodgers "capped" their offer at $600 million, per Patrick Mooney, Will Sammon, Brendan Kuty and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

The Yankees and Mets came closest in terms of money. According to Heyman, the Mets' deal may have been differentiated by "relatively small things" including a higher signing bonus, a fifth-year opt out and a suite for his family.

Judge said multiple times since October that he was not in communication with Soto as his former teammate weighed a return to the Yankees against offers from other teams.

The Yankees captain told reporters on Oct. 24, one day prior to Game 1 of the World Series, that he hadn't discussed free agency with Soto. He then took a similar stance when asked for an update on his communication with Soto in late November.

"I think the best thing is to really give those guys space," Judge said on Nov. 22, per SNY. "You know, I talked to him all season and he knows how we feel about him."

Soto, whose .327 postseason batting average was key in leading the Yankees to the World Series as Judge's offense faltered, will now be taking his services to Queens.

If the New York Yankees end up winning the Juan Soto sweepstakes this offseason, they could have Aaron Judge to thank.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Sunday that Judge is the "Yankees' edge" with "all things being equal" because Soto "loves" his fellow slugger in the lineup and as an overall leader. What's more, Judge doesn't mind if he is making less money than the free agent star in New York.

The desire to continue playing together appears to be mutual between Soto and Judge.

"Having a chance to have Juan hitting in front of me, I get to see a lot of pitches," Judge told reporters earlier this offseason. "He's going to be a tough at-bat in front of me. He's going to wear down the pitcher right there in the first inning, within the first 15 pitches or so. I think that was a big impact, having a guy like that in front of you. If I could have eight Juan Sotos in the lineup with me, I'd love that."

Judge is signed through the 2031 campaign and will make $40 million annually. That will surely be less than Soto if the latter does re-sign with New York, but, as Heyman noted, that doesn't matter to Judge.

"Honestly, it ain't my money," he said. "I really don't care, as long as we get the best players, we get the most that we can. I'm happy with whatever. That's never been something on my mind, about who gets paid the most."

It seems like Soto will be paid the most regardless of where he goes.

Heyman reported on Saturday that the Yankees and New York Mets increased their offers to the $710 million-$730 million range, which would be more than the heavily deferred $700 million deal Shohei Ohtani agreed to with the Los Angeles Dodgers last offseason.

According to Heyman, the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays and Dodgers are the other primary suitors who are still in the running, although "Soto won't necessarily take the exact highest bidder."

With the Yankees reportedly willing to pay him more than Ohtani got last offseason and the presence of someone like Judge to be protection in a lineup that will once again have World Series aspirations, it is difficult to see the Bronx Bombers as anything but favorites as the process unfolds.

That would give New York one of the best building blocks in the entire league at just 26 years old, and opposing pitchers would have to deal with quite the one-two punch for seasons to come.

New York Yankees star Aaron Judge says he hasn't spoken to Juan Soto since his former teammate hit free agency following the Yankees' World Series loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"I haven't talked to him at all," Judge said on Friday, per SNY. "I think the best thing is to really give those guys space. I talked to him all season and he knows how we feel about him."

Aaron Judge says he has not spoken with Juan Soto at all since the end of the World Series:

"I think the best thing is to really give those guys space. I talked to him all season and he knows how we feel about him." pic.twitter.com/KAEPWjoCwY

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) November 22, 2024

The Yankees are reportedly in competition with other teams including the Dodgers, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays to sign Soto this offseason.

Judge made it clear he would prefer to have Soto in the batting lineup ahead of him next season.

"Having the chance to have one hit in front of me, and I get to see a lot of pitches, he's going to be a tough at-bat in front of me. He's going to wear down the pitcher right there in the first inning, within the first 15 pitches or so," Judge said about batting behind Soto during the run to the World Series. "That was a big impact, was having a guy like that in front of you.

"If I could have eight Juan Sotos in the lineup with me, I would love that."

"If I could have eight Juan Sotos in the lineup with me, I'd love that."

- Aaron Judge pic.twitter.com/kWI7sPUzni

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) November 22, 2024

Judge said he met with Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner in Tampa after the end of the season in order to discuss free agency options including bringing Soto back to the Bronx.

Judge re-signed with the Yankees in December 2022 on a $360 million, nine-year contract. At the time the deal marked the third-largest in MLB history.

Winning the bidding war for Soto could require the Yankees going well over that amount, with the star hitter's next deal generally estimated to be somewhere in the range of $500 million over ten years.

Judge said on Friday that Soto potentially receiving more money from the Yankees would not bother him.

"It ain't my money, I really don't care, as long as we get the best players, we get the most that we can, I'm happy with whatever," Judge said. "That's never been something on my mind, about who gets paid the most. It's just, whatever we can do to get the best players, I'll take it. I think that's what it comes down to.

Judge named Giancarlo Stanton, who is playing on the 13-year, $325 million deal with the Miami Marlins in 2014, as an example as to how to manage teammates' rising salaries.

"Once he came here, he didn't care about being the highest-paid guy. He just wanted good players around him," Judge said. "I think you could ask everybody in the room, they kind of feel the same way."

The Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox and Blue Jays have all met with Soto in free agency, and the Philadelphia Phillies are setting up a meeting, per The Athletic's Jim Bowden. Soto, who turned 26 in October and led the AL with 128 runs last year, could potentially meet with even more teams before making his final free agency decision.

The big news out of the baseball world on Thursday is that Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge are unanimous MVP winners for the 2024 MLB season.

Well, duh. Here's hoping everyone enjoyed their work, because the likes of it will probably never be seen again.

Ohtani winning the National League MVP and Judge winning the American League MVP is about as surprising as the sun and moon changing places every 24 hours. Frankly, MLB Network's hour-long reveal special could have been condensed into two seconds.

Though it was his first in the NL for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ohtani now has three MVPs. That puts him in a club with only 11 other players, though he is the only one (h/t Sarah Langs of MLB.com) to win each of his three by unanimous votes.

Judge, meanwhile, now has two MVPs and can count himself as one of seven players to win multiple MVPs as a New York Yankee.

Though neither lived up to his billing in the playoffs, this moment is nothing if not an exclamation point for Ohtani and Judge. And in all likelihood, the 2024 season will go down as arguably the finest hour either slugger ever had.

---

MLB Has Never Had an MVP Duo Like This One

Remember when Ohtani and Judge went head-to-head in the 2022 AL MVP race?

Though Judge won with 28 out of 30 first-place votes, even his AL-record-setting 62 home runs didn't paper over Ohtani's case completely. Rightfully so, as he was a top-five hitter and pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels that year.

Compared to 2024, though, the '22 season looks like a warm-up act for Ohtani and Judge.

Forced to take a break from pitching by way of a second major elbow operation, Ohtani set a career-high with a 190 OPS+ and, oh yeah, chartered MLB's 50-50 Club with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases.

For his part, Judge came two homers short of becoming the third hitter to post multiple 60-homer seasons. And this time, he posted career bests with a .322 average, a .458 OBP, a .701 slugging percentage and a 1.159 OPS.

At his hottest, Judge had a 100-game span in which he had a 1.344 OPS and 45 home runs. The only other player to hit those marks within a single season: Barry Bonds in 2001.

Don't say "Holy smokes" just yet, because it gets better. When you combine key stats for Ohtani and Judge, here's where they rank among MVP duos since the modern version of the award was born in 1931:

• 194 Extra-Base Hits: 2nd
• 803 Total Bases: 2nd
• 112 Home Runs: 1st
• 20.0 rWAR: 2nd

This is not counting 1979, when Willie Stargell and Keith Hernandez shared the NL award and made it an MVP trio with AL winner Don Baylor.

Otherwise, you have to hand it to Jimmie Foxx and Chuck Klein for combining for 203 extra-base hits and 858 total bases in 1932. And likewise to Stan Musial and Lou Boudreau for posting 21.7 total rWAR in 1948.

As for what comes next for Ohtani and Judge, well, that's a nice parade you've got there. It would be a shame if someone rained on it.

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What's Next for Ohtani?

As a general rule, doubting Shohei Ohtani is dangerous.

It's because of him, after all, that we know it is possible for one person to be an elite hitter and an elite pitcher. And, of course, to top 50 homers and 50 steals in a season. Anyone who dared to proclaim as such before he came from Japan in 2017 probably would have tried as a heretic.

It is nonetheless plausible that 2024 will be Ohtani's high point as a sheer offensive force, if for no other reason than he likely won't ever go 50-50 again. History says as much, as hitters are now just 1-for-95,387 in making such seasons happen.

With his return to pitching due up in 2025, it's also worth remembering that Ohtani's two-way act functioned as a sort of tax on his offensive output between 2021 and 2023:

• Games in Which He Didn't Pitch: .972 OPS, 12.3 AB/HR
• Games in Which He Did Pitch: .914 OPS, 19.9 AB/HR

Granted, the Dodgers will live with Ohtani being a less effective hitter if he still has the goods to dominate from the mound. And he will do so if his fastball still touches triple digits and his splitter and sweeper are filth-tastic.

But does anyone want to bank on it?

Shohei Ohtani last night, 40/40.

Today, throwing off a mound for the first time since elbow surgery 👀 pic.twitter.com/jjQtSCqZkF

— MLB (@MLB) August 25, 2024

We know that Ohtani has had one Tommy John surgery. And while we knew frustratingly little at first, we learned via his surgeon in March that his second elbow surgery was part-Tommy John, part-internal brace procedure.

Those who would be optimistic about Ohtani's pitching future after these surgeries don't have much to lean on. There aren't many success stories among pitchers who've had Tommy John multiple times. For pitchers who've had Tommy John and internal brace procedures, there's basically only Rich Hill and Drew Rasmussen to consider.

Oh, and the Dodgers? They're not great at keeping pitchers healthy.

Ohtani obviously won't be out of work if his return to pitching doesn't pan out. The surgery he had to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder after the World Series doesn't set off loud alarms. It is neither his throwing shoulder nor his lead shoulder in the batter's box.

Even still, you can probably rule out Ohtani ever stealing 50 bases again. He will enter his age-30 season in 2025, putting him in territory where 50-steal seasons have been exceedingly uncommon (i.e., twice since 2001) in the 21st century.

Otherwise, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported in May that Ohtani would "likely be amenable" if the Dodgers asked him to give up pitching to be an outfielder. If that comes to pass, he'll have a whole new reason to spare his legs undue effort.

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What's Next for Judge?

As for Judge, well, what is there to worry about?

He just became only the second hitter since 1957 to top a 220 OPS+ in a season, and his Baseball Savant page looks like somebody spilled red paint all over it.

looking at aaron judge's statcast page is like looking at the sun pic.twitter.com/KZkiYjl2sg

— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) October 25, 2024

Still, Judge is a 6'7", 282-pounder who will turn 33 on April 26, 2025, and who may or may not be needed back in center field.

Where Judge plays going forward hinges on whether the Yankees re-sign Juan Soto. If they don't, right field will be open. If they do, it's notable that the Yankees preferred Judge in center even after they called up Jasson Domínguez late in 2024.

If the Yankees continue to use Judge in center, they wouldn't be the first team to use a 33-year-old as a regular out there. But in recent times, precedents for that kind of behavior include guys like Kevin Kiermaier, Brett Gardner, Lorenzo Cain, Denard Span, Ángel Pagán and Coco Crisp.

None of them was as big as Judge, whose size may be destined to become a problem no matter what.

He's at an age where most hitters are either already burning out or are in danger of doing so. And for bigger hitters, the risk is greater. Upon tallying all the Runs Created ever produced, I found that hitters of 250 pounds or more compiled a larger percentage (87 percent) through the age of 32 than hitters under 250 pounds (84 percent).

And this is just a general picture. Judge really is a special case, as he's one of only three hitters of at least 6'5" and 250 pounds to have had a notable career in MLB.

The others are Adam Dunn and Frank Howard, and neither offers a compelling reason to believe Judge has a long runway of good seasons still ahead of him. Both were still pretty good at 33 and then a cliff came for each soon after.

It's hard to imagine Judge's own cliff arriving so soon after he did [waves hands] that in 2024, but bear in mind that cliffs sneak up on hitters all the time.

Heck, it was just two years ago that Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado finished first and third in the NL MVP voting. Now, the former is a middle-tier free agent and the latter is a salary-dump trade candidate.

All this said, please don't mistake the takeaway here for a dire warning that Ohtani and Judge are doomed to fail in 2025 and forever afterward. This has been an attempt to ponder their mortality, not to dig their graves.

Even more so, this is a plea not to take what Ohtani and Judge did in 2024 for granted. Their individual and collective feats were extraordinary in every known sense of the word.

A couple of MVP awards are the least that they deserve. What they really earned is the right to have their 2024 seasons remembered forever.

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Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Savant.

After spending much of the 2024 Major League Baseball season under the spotlight, Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees took home the sport's biggest individual awards.

Ohtani won the National League MVP over fellow finalists New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor and Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte. It is the third MVP of his career with the first two coming in the American League when he was a member of the Los Angeles Angels.

WORLD CHAMP. RECORD SETTER. UNANIMOUS NL MVP 😤

SHOHEI OHTANI WINS HIS THIRD MVP AWARD 🏆 pic.twitter.com/UWQRfD5rPM

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 21, 2024

Shohei Ohtani wins the MVP award UNANIMOUSLY for the 3rd time in his career 🤯 pic.twitter.com/91p3ObkMqn

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) November 21, 2024

Judge won this year's AL MVP over finalists Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and teammate Juan Soto. It is the second MVP of his career, as he also took home the award in 2022.

AARON JUDGE IS YOUR UNANIMOUS AL MVP 🔥

The league's HR leader stacks his SECOND MVP award 👏 pic.twitter.com/tabBz27EVG

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 21, 2024

30/30 for The Captain ✅ pic.twitter.com/lOkavs4eCA

— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) November 21, 2024

Unfortunately for Judge and Soto, their team fell short against Ohtani's Dodgers in the World Series. The MVP is just the latest development in an incredible season for the Los Angeles star, who thrived even though he was limited to being a designated hitter.

The Dodgers said in spring training he wasn't going to pitch in 2024 after having elbow surgery in September 2023.

Prior to this season, a full-time DH has never won an MVP award in either league. The closest it came to happening was in 2005 when David Ortiz finished second in the voting to Alex Rodriguez.

Of course, there has never really been a player like Ohtani. He shattered all of the narratives for DH-only players by becoming the first player in MLB history to hit at least 50 homers and steal 50 bases.

6-for-6
3 HR
2 SB
10 RBI
Started the 50/50 club

Did Shohei Ohtani have the best game in baseball history? #ITFactor

(Gatorade x MLB) pic.twitter.com/eUXEj4rE64

— MLB (@MLB) November 11, 2024

Ohtani led the NL in homers (54), RBI (130), on-base percentage (.390) and slugging percentage (.646). His 411 total bases were tied with Barry Bonds in 2001 for the 16th-most in a single season in MLB history.

By FanGraphs' wins above replacement, Ohtani's 9.1 was by far the most in the NL. Lindor was second at 7.8. No other player in the senior circuit was worth more than seven wins.

This is the third time in four years that Ohtani has won the MVP award. He is the 12th player in MLB history with at least three MVPs. He joins Frank Robinson as the only players to win the MVP in both leagues.

Keeping in mind this could be the floor for Ohtani's value because he was only a DH this season and is expected to go back to pitching in 2025 when he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery, it wouldn't be a surprise if he continues to add more MVP awards to his ever-growing trophy case.

As for Judge, he had the best season of his career, which includes his MVP in 2022, with a .322/.458/.701 slash line in 158 games.

Judge led MLB in homers (58), RBI (144), walks (133), on-base percentage, slugging percentage and FanGraphs' wins above replacement (11.2).

By OPS+, Judge's 223 mark was the best single-season performance by any player since Barry Bonds in 2004 (263). It's tied for the 29th-highest OPS+ in a season in MLB history.

This marks the fourth consecutive year that Judge and/or Ohtani has won the AL MVP award. Both players received the honor this year now that they play in separate leagues.

Judge's MVP win also marks the 24th time a Yankees player has won the award, extending the franchise's MLB record.

Two of the most impressive players in baseball took home a coveted award on Thursday.

Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge were named the 2024 Hank Aaron Award winners.

Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers won it in the National League while Judge of the New York Yankees took it home in the American League.

For the second time in three years, Aaron Judge is the American League Hank Aaron Award winner! pic.twitter.com/jSo5OH0AZL

— MLB (@MLB) November 15, 2024

The honors keep piling up for Shohei Ohtani!

He is the National League Hank Aaron Award winner. pic.twitter.com/4hO60UlRyh

— MLB (@MLB) November 15, 2024

It marks the second time each player has won the award. Ohtani won it in the AL last season when he was with the Los Angeles Angels while Judge claimed it in 2022 when he broke the AL home run record.

Both players had outstanding years and ultimately finished their seasons in the World Series—Ohtani and the Dodgers came out on top as he won his first championship.

Ohtani, in his debut season with the Dodgers, had 54 home runs, 130 RBI, 38 doubles and seven triples. He had career-highs in homers, RBI and doubles while also posting a career-best .310 batting average. His 1.036 OPS was the second-best in the majors only behind Judge.

But Ohtani was more than just power at the plate this year as he also showed off his speed. He stole 59 bases, smashing his previous career-high of 26. He became the first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season.

Judge was his usual self at the plate in 2024. He blasted 58 homers, 144 RBI, 36 doubles and one triple. He had the best OPS in the majors at 1.159 while recording the third-best batting average at .322.