Aaron Judge Wins 2023 Unanimous AL MVP: His Historic Second Award Triumph

Aaron Judge Earns Second Unanimous MVP Award

New York Yankees star Aaron Judge has made history by winning his second American League MVP award, this time unanimously. He achieved this milestone after an impressive season, posting a 218 wRC+, the highest ever for a right-handed hitter.

Judge received all 30 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, totaling 420 points. He finished well ahead of second-place Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals, who had 270 points, and his Yankees teammate Juan Soto, who finished third with 229 points.

In 2022, Judge set the American League record with 62 home runs. This year, he hit 58 home runs and drove in 144 runs, sporting a batting line of .322/.458/.701. His 11.2 fWAR ranked as one of the top performances in Yankees history.

Judge has become the seventh player in Yankees history to win multiple MVP awards. He joins legends like Mickey Mantle and Lou Gehrig on this exclusive list.

“I was talking to Bryce Harper a lot this season. I told him, ‘I’m going to try to catch up to you with these MVPs,’” Judge shared on MLB Network. “It means a lot to me. The hard work, support from my teammates, and the fans helped me get here.”

This season, Judge led all MLB players in several categories, including home runs, RBIs, and on-base percentage. His performance surpassed his remarkable stats from 2022.

Despite his personal achievements, Judge emphasized his team’s contribution. “I wouldn’t be in this position without my teammates,” he stated.

Judge faced a high volume of sliders this season but excelled against them, showcasing his ability to adapt and refine his game. As he looks toward future seasons, topping his 2024 performance will be a challenge, but more accolades may await him.