NEW YORK – The Bronx was roaring on the evening of Oct. 7, but Aaron Judge remembers hearing nothing. Some 40,000 pairs of eyes tracked a baseball on its collision course with the left-field foul pole, then came the clang against steel – fair ball, and a postseason moment that promised to live on.
The blast still echoes more than a month later, though it would have meant more if the Yankees had prevailed in that American League Division Series against the Blue Jays. Still, Judge’s terrific campaign was the centerpiece of New York’s title hopes, recognized Thursday not only with his second straight AL MVP Award, but also with the captain’s selection to the All-MLB First Team presented by MGM Rewards.
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Yankees left-hander Max Fried also earned All-MLB First Team honors, as announced in Las Vegas. Outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger, now a free agent, was selected to the All-MLB Second Team.
Though Judge’s playoff homer was unforgettable, voters were asked to only consider regular-season performance (as the Baseball Writers’ Association of America does with its awards, including Most Valuable Player).
It was a season worthy of any trophy case for Judge, who became the tallest batting champion in Major League history, standing 6-foot-7 and raking opposing pitching to the tune of a .331 average with 53 homers and 114 RBIs.
Judge led the Majors in on-base percentage (.457), slugging percentage (.688), OPS (1.145), times on base (310), intentional walks (36) and WAR per FanGraphs (10.1).
Judge joined Mickey Mantle (1956) and Jimmie Foxx (‘38) as the only players in Major League history to win a batting title while hitting 50 or more homers. This marks Judge’s fourth All-MLB First Team selection (previously 2021, ’22 and ’24), along with an All-MLB Second Team nod in ‘23.
The Yanks wouldn’t have been in playoff position without Fried, who excelled in his first season wearing pinstripes.
Stepping into the ace role after Gerrit Cole was lost to injury in March, Fried was 19-5 with a 2.86 ERA in 32 starts, setting career highs in wins, starts, innings pitched (195 1/3) and strikeouts (189). Fried’s 19 wins led the Majors, and his .792 winning percentage paced the AL.
This is Fried’s second All-MLB First Team selection; he previously made it in 2020 with the Braves. Fried was also an All-MLB Second Team selection in ‘21 and ’22 with Atlanta.
From the first days of Spring Training, it felt as if Bellinger had been in the room for years. Perhaps that was because of his Yankees pedigree, as his father Clay played for the Bombers during their most recent dynasty. But Cody Bellinger did plenty to earn his place on both sides of the ball.
Bellinger slashed .272/.334/.480 with 25 doubles, 29 homers and 98 RBIs in 152 games. He added athleticism and versatility to the Yanks’ roster by appearing at all three outfield positions and first base.
Bellinger – a left-handed hitter – was especially potent against left-handed pitchers, hitting .353 (54-for-153) with a 1.016 OPS that ranked fifth in the AL. He was also reliable with runners in scoring position (.348, 49-for-141).
Bellinger previously made the All-MLB First Team in 2019, the same year he captured the National League MVP Award with the Dodgers.