NEW YORK — Aaron Judge sought a change in his approach at the plate. The New York Yankees center fielder, known as one of the most feared hitters in the majors, had been struggling in the early weeks of the season. By the end of April, he was batting just .207.
“I wasn’t performing well,” he recently admitted.
Determined to turn things around, Judge, like many players, decided to make a significant adjustment to his swing.
On May 5, he stepped up to face Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal with two outs in the first inning. Instead of his usual open stance, with his left foot angled towards the third baseman, he made a change. He closed his stance slightly, pointing his foot more towards the pitcher and stood a bit straighter.
The adjustment paid off immediately. With a 1-1 count, Skubal delivered a 97-mph fastball over the plate, and Judge took advantage, hitting a solo home run that nearly reached the bleachers in right-center field at Yankee Stadium.
From that game onward, Judge regained his form as one of the top hitters in baseball. Leading in two of three Triple Crown categories, he boasted an American League-best 42 home runs and 106 RBIs going into Monday’s game against the Chicago White Sox. Although his .328 batting average was second to the Kansas City Royals’ Bobby Witt, who was hitting .347. Judge also had a 217 wRC+, the highest in the league and more than 30 points higher than his closest competitor, teammate Juan Soto at 186.
He was also on the brink of hitting his 300th career home run, poised to become the fastest player to reach that milestone.
Judge credited the adjustment in his stance for several improvements in his game. It not only made him more comfortable but also helped him handle sliders and pitches away more effectively. Prior to May 5, Judge was hitting just .154 with a .333 slugging percentage against sliders. Post-adjustment, he improved to .348 average and .812 slugging percentage.
“Just staying on the away pitch a little better,” Judge explained. “A lot of teams like to throw sliders away, and if I start more closed or straight, I can stay on those better.”
He also noted that the change helped him land his front foot consistently where he wanted it, pointing directly at the pitcher.
Though Judge’s stance adjustment was not a one-time fix, the ongoing tweaks have helped him maintain balance and consistency at the plate.
First baseman Anthony Rizzo, a seasoned hitter, observed Judge’s stance change and emphasized the importance of a hitter’s legs in achieving success. The Yankees have made it a goal to closely monitor each other’s at-bats and offer feedback to address flaws throughout the season.
“Hitting is very hard,” Rizzo remarked. “As long as you have a solid foundation and timing, it doesn’t matter where you start. It’s about feel.”
Manager Aaron Boone noted that Judge’s swing had become more direct and simplified post-adjustment, enhancing his efficiency in the batter’s box.
“He’s real calm and has great swing decisions,” Boone said. “He knows what he’s looking for and doesn’t try to overdo it. He slows it down very well.”
Hitting coach James Rowson added that even top players often make significant adjustments to feel more comfortable at the plate.
“It’s not strange,” Rowson said. “It’s about regaining that feeling of being in a good position to make a good move.”
Despite teams increasingly pitching around him, Judge expressed satisfaction with the change and remained open to further adjustments as he continues to seek comfort at the plate.
“These are the little things where you just watch your tape and analyze your game,” he said. “And it’s like, well, let me see if this will work.”
A reporter suggested to Judge that the adjustment seemed to have a positive impact.
He smiled and responded, “So far.”
(Top photo of Aaron Judge: Gregory Fisher / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)