5 Lessons You Can Learn From Aaron Judge
I make no apologies for being a baseball junkie. This is without a doubt the second-most wonderful time of the year for me, now that the MLB postseason has started. The most wonderul time of the year obviously being the Women's College World Series in June.
I remember growing up watching some of my favorite players nearly every time a baseball game came on our TV. Growing up in Alabama, very rarely did we have the regional broadcasts, so it would be exclusively nationally televised games from a random assortment of teams. It was the Athletes Unlimited model before it ever came to exist. I loved watching individual players way more than I was rooting for one specific team because there wasn’t one specific team I could root for. I was glued to the TV watching Cal Ripken Jr (who has inspired my family’s love for the #8 and being durable), Ichiro (who I believe is the player whom my swing most closely resembles), and Ken Griffey Jr (simply my favorite all-around player to watch).
I haven’t come close to replicating that feeling with baseball games until recently as I was tracking Aaron Judge’s quest for 62 home runs, an American League Record, which was broken in Arlington against the Texas Rangers during one of the last games of the regular season. It has truly been an amazing thing to follow along all season and I believe there are a few lessons that young softball players can learn from the story of Aaron Judge.
Bet On Yourself - Judge notably turned down one of the biggest contracts in baseball history, a 7-year $213.5m deal. Judge thought he deserved more, and was willing to let his play do the talking. It clearly has (and for the record if there are any Yankee front office folks reading this I would gladly take that $200m and you can look into my stats). Now, he is poised to become the highest paid player in MLB history next season. Instead of acting entitled to playing time, being a starter, or a scholarship from a certain school, what would happen if you didn’t say a word but let your performance talk for you? I encourage you to accept that challenge. Prove it.
It’s OK to be a late-bloomer. Judge was a first round draft pick, but was never considered a top 100 prospect in the minor leagues. This is Judge’s best season BY FAR. He is 30 years old. While softball players don’t have the same opportunities to develop as baseball players do, you can’t look away from this being a true player development success story. There are numerous articles about his swing and miss issues and swing flaws in college and in the minors; but he kept working, trusted his process, and now is the AL homerun king. He's a legend because he persevered and was patient.
Pitch Selection is Critical. Judge’s chase rate ranks among the MLB’s best. He swings at pitches that are in the zone and very rarely chases that are outside the zone. Pitchers will throw the ball over the plate. Be on time and mash it. Take the walk if they are willing to give it to you.
Monitor Exit Velo - Judge’s average exit velocity this season is 95.9mph. That leads all of Major League Baseball. The dude hits the ball hard consistently. Yes, he is basically a defensive lineman out there hitting baseballs, but his strength coupled with his hand-eye coordination and pitch selection is allowing him to achieve unreal numbers. Imagine if you added some muscle this offseason and got notably stronger. Stronger people hit the ball harder. It’s as simple as that. Don't know where to start? Check out our online strength programs over at HLT.
It’s not just about raw power. Judge finished a couple batting average points away from the triple crown. Not only is he hitting for power, but he is also hitting for average. Currently hitting .311 In total, he has 177 hits in 570 ABs. 177 hits puts him at 8th in MLB and he has drawn 111 walks, which is 2nd in MLB. Judge is a threat to go deep at any moment, but he hasn’t tried to do too much at the plate. He has consistently been hitting singles and doubles and drawing walks to be on base for his team.
Tune into MLB's postseason games and watch and learn from the best hitters on the planet, including Judge. I guarantee there is something new you can add to your game.
Have a great week!--Halo
