Aaron Judge Wins 3rd AL MVP Award
- NEW YORK -- Aaron Judge received his first standing ovation of 2026 not on the baseball field, but in a Manhattan ballroom Saturday evening.
- Judge and Rizzo sat together at the 101st annual dinner held by the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Judge was honored as the...
- Rizzo continued, acknowledging the unique pressures of playing in New york:
Judge Receives MVP Honors at BBWAA Dinner
NEW YORK — Aaron Judge received his first standing ovation of 2026 not on the baseball field, but in a Manhattan ballroom Saturday evening. The applause followed an introduction from former teammate Anthony Rizzo.
Judge and Rizzo sat together at the 101st annual dinner held by the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Judge was honored as the American League Most Valuable Player and received the chapter’s “Toast of the Town” award.
“He’s the most special person I’ve ever been around,” Rizzo said. “Playing in New York is different, as everyone knows. When you put the pinstripes on, you’re going to have good times and bad times. They get heavy at times.”
Rizzo continued, acknowledging the unique pressures of playing in New york:
“The lights shine brighter. the pressure is heavier. Every moment is magnified.”
The event celebrated baseball excellence,with Shohei Ohtani also recognized for his achievements. Judge’s 2026 MVP award adds to his already notable career, solidifying his place as a cornerstone of the Yankees franchise.
You can read more about the event at MLB.com.
This story was excerpted from Bryan Hoch’s Yankees Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.