Punching Past Barry Bonds Not Enough For Aaron Judge To Win Al Mvp

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 18, 2025, 8:57 AM

punching past barry bonds not enough for aaron judge to win al mvp

Aaron Judge is rewriting baseball history—but not everyone is ready to hand him the MVP. Wondering why! Well, the predictions are out, and they are hotter than New York summer. Given Judge’s number from this season, it says another MVP. But one audacious forecast by an MLB insider claims differently, leaving everyone scratching their heads. If he’s not good enough, then who?

Aaron Judge’s 2025 season is nothing short of epic. Leading the majors in hits (56), home runs (12), RBIs (34), and runs (34); he’s flaunting a .400 batting average and a 1.241 OPS through the first 37 games. These numbers are historic, not only league-leading figures. They reflect the high years of Barry Bonds, who had an average slash line of .347/.547/.834 from 2001 to 2004. So, even after coming close to the legend, there are doubts! Sounds a little off, right?

You might think it’s Bobby Witt Jr., the runner-up from the previous season, but no! Certain analysts have turned to a Detroit Tigers outfielder. In a recent article by MLB, they asked some insiders to pen down predictions, and the most interesting one was from Anthony Castrovince. He wrote, “Judge is completely lapping the field right now, but that was also the case around this time in 2023, before he dealt with a midseason foot injury. I don’t wish injury upon him (not even to help me stumble upon a correct prediction for once), but it is a part of his career profile, unfortunately. So stranger things have happened.”

While doubting Judge’s MVP win, he also predicted who has the potential. Any guesses? Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh had historic seasons, but only one could win the AL MVP. Steph Chambers / Getty Images By Tyler Kepner, Chandler Rome, Britt Ghiroli and Zack Meisel Plenty has changed about baseball.

Little has changed about how voters are supposed to determine the league’s Most Valuable Player. From the official guidance given by the BBWAA: There is no clear-cut definition of what Most Valuable means. It is up to the individual voter to decide who was the Most Valuable Player in each league to his team. The MVP need not come from a division winner or other playoff qualifier. The rules of the voting remain the same as they were written on the first ballot in 1931:

New York Yankees star Aaron Judge carries the burden of expectation into another October. The Yankees slugger has become the face of the franchise, but his postseason resume lags far behind his regular-season dominance. Much like Barry Bonds in the early part of his career, Judge has faced constant criticism for failing to deliver when it matters most. In the MLB postseason, Judge owns a .205 batting average with a .768 OPS and a 33 percent strikeout rate across 262 plate appearances. Those numbers pale in comparison to his .294 average and 1.028 OPS in the regular season. With the Yankees pushing for a World Series, his struggles are again under the spotlight.

The comparisons to postseason legends are unavoidable. Many great players faced years of criticism before finally delivering on the biggest stage. Judge now finds himself in that same position, carrying the weight of expectations that only grow heavier with each October. His task begins immediately. In Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series, he faces left-hander Garrett Crochet, who has held him to just three hits in 15 at-bats, though two went for homers. Game 2 does not offer relief.

Righty Brayan Bello has limited Judge to two hits in 21 at-bats with six walks and no home runs. The matchups highlight how slim postseason margins can be, and how quickly small samples can magnify struggles. Still, context matters. Over the past four seasons, Judge has produced three of the greatest campaigns by a right-handed hitter in MLB history. He powered the Yankees to the league lead in runs and home runs this year. For many, those achievements set a higher standard.

October is the proving ground. Another postseason flop would intensify the criticism that Judge cannot deliver when it matters most. A monster October, capped with a World Series championship, would silence the doubts and erase years of frustration. Barry Bonds once rewrote his October story with a dominant 2002 run, and Judge has the chance to follow that path. New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is off to a blazing start to the 2025 MLB season. Thanks in large part to Judge, the Yankees are sitting at 18-13 after the first month, good for first place in the American League East.

Judge won the AL MVP in 2024, and he’s already making a strong case to repeat in 2025. Yankees manager Aaron Boone isn’t shocked. He’s loving what he’s seeing from his star player early in the season. Try PFSN's FREE fantasy baseball trade analyzer to help you make the best decisions for your fantasy teams! Some folks thought Judge might cool off in 2025 after winning MVP last year. But there’s no sign of that.

He looks like he’s playing even better, and Boone agrees. “He’s continued to become a better hitter,” Boone told the media. “And I say this, I’m not being cute or funny: honestly, I don’t think he’s really been that hot yet. Honestly, he’s getting his hits, and I think it’s a credit to just how great he is. But when he gets really going, he starts hitting balls in the seats routinely that, you know, buckle up.” Celebrating a championship will always be the crowning achievement in professional sports, but individual accolades can define a legacy.

In every major North American sport, we've seen breakout stars have great seasons and win their league's Most Valuable Player award. Securing an MVP does not guarantee a Hall of Fame path, but it certainly helps a career résumé down the road. Across the last 25 years, we've witnessed some fantastic, tight MVP races. Each league—from MLB to the NFL to the NBA and beyond—does its voting a bit differently, but the following races went to the wire. Aaron Judge entered the 2025 season with a chance to earn his third AL MVP in a four-year stretch. He certainly played at that level, leading the majors in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OBP.

He tallied an AL-high 124 walks and belted 53 homers with 114 RBI. On paper, everything about that campaign screams MVP. Pro Football and Sports Network covers all the major professional sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, Tennis, WNBA, NASCAR, and more. New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge was shocked that his swing rate is higher this season than it has been throughout his career. The two-time AL MVP continues to hit at an otherworldly level, as his batting average sits at .356. At 33, he’s putting forward the best season of his career.

Boston Red Sox pitching coach Andrew Bailey recently discussed their approach to Judge at the plate. A Yankees win and the Tampa Bay Rays’ loss allowed New York to strengthen its AL East lead to 1.5 games. The Toronto Blue Jays remain only three games back, with the struggling Red Sox falling eight games behind. Sitting in fourth place, Bailey still had a lot to say about Judge as a hitter and what the team looks for when he comes to the plate. “We always talk about attacking aggression with aggression,” Bailey said. “You have to remember, even though Judge is the best hitter in the league right now, it’s still a favorable outcome for you more times than not.”

Punching Past Barry Bonds Not Enough For Aaron Judge To Win Al Mvp

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