World Series 2024: Aaron Judge's second superpower leads the Yankees in ways not reflected in the box score

Everyone was in disbelief. Except Aaron Judge, of course.

It was October 9th and the Yankees' postseason journey was in danger of stalling. Two days earlier, the Kansas City Royals stole ALDS Game 2 in the Bronx and tied the series. A Royals win in Game 3 would put the Yankees on the brink of another early fall elimination and another miserable winter.

When Judge was mistakenly called for a check swing to end the seventh inning of a tied game, a geyser of frustration erupted from the visiting bench. The Yankees' arms flew skyward in desperation. Captain Aaron Boone shook his head in disgust and fired an F-bomb. Outfielder Alex Verdugo gave himself completely. Pitching coach Matt Blake, watching the replay on an iPad, remarked, “This is so damn bad.”

It was the kind of moment that left many a ball club in emotional disarray. Smaller mistakes have brought down larger empires. But while the Yankees faltered, Judge was, as always, a pillar of calm. The aggrieved slugger, his face unchanged, stoically opened his shin guard, leaving behind the batter's box and the at-bat.

Panic can be contagious, but calm can also be contagious.

An inning later, Yankees DH Giancarlo Stanton blasted a hit over the left field wall to give New York the lead for good – in the game and the series. Ten days later, the Yankees swept the Cleveland Guardians in five games in the ALCS and reached the World Series for the first time since 2009.

“(This strikeout) shows his uncanny ability to get to the next pitch or the next moment. He does it better than anyone in the game,” Yankees hitting coach James Rowson told Yahoo Sports. “What happens on the other hand is I think he makes other guys think and calms other guys down, which has a ripple effect on the club. … In those moments you might lose focus a little bit, but your ability to calm it down kind of calms the group down and now you're able to get back on track quicker.”

Stanton didn't hit that game-winning home run in Game 3 only because Judge didn't sulk after his strikeout. Baseball, like life, is never that tidy. But that scene in Kansas City is a perfect testament to how the Yankees captain's endless fortitude in the face of immense chaos has allowed this edition of the sport's most scrutinized franchise to remain focused on the long game.

It is Judge's second superpower, along with generational change.

“At the beginning of the year, when he hit $50 four weeks later, you couldn’t tell,” Yankees infielder Jon Berti said. “Same guy every day, positive, great leader. A month later, when he's hitting .400 and, you know, on track to have the year he had, he was the same guy. To see one of the best players in the world, our leader, doing that just shows what kind of person he is.”

No player has hit more home runs in his first 1,000 MLB games than Judge. His complete list of accomplishments is deafening: 315 major hits, six All-Star appearances and a second AL MVP award at the end of this postseason. It will be well-deserved considering Judge just delivered the best offensive season since Barry Bonds, slashing .322/.458/.701 with 58 home runs and 144 RBI. He is the face of the sport alongside World Series opponent Shohei Ohtani.

But for this Yankees team, Judge's impact extends far beyond the white lines. He is the voice of reason, a towering beacon of consistency, the most popular figure in the clubhouse and someone who unwaveringly believes in the inevitability of success.

“He leads by example and we appreciate him for his ability,” Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe said of Judge during a recent media conference. “You see how hard he works and how he treats everyone, it just takes it to another level of something to aspire to.”

When recently asked if he could recall an instance in which Judge showed obvious frustration on the diamond, Yankees utility man Oswaldo Cabrera frowned and paused. “I’ve never seen it before,” he said. “He never swings his bat or helmet.”

“He’s a pro, man. That’s why he’s the star, dude,” outfielder Alex Verdugo said. “He goes about his business the right way.”

When asked where his fortitude comes from, Judge told Yahoo Sports in a recent conversation that it is both learned and innate.

“I’ve always tried to be regimented, but you grow into it a little bit,” Judge said. “When I got to the big leagues, I saw a guy like Mark Teixeira. “Man, I could look at the clock and know exactly where he was going to be. By 5:02 a.m. he would be in the weight room getting ready. At 5:15 a.m. he ate. At 5:30 a.m. he was stretched. I just saw this consistency. If he has a great career, I would like to have a career like that.”

Judge leads a blessed but relentless life. Someone always wants something from him: time, advice, an autograph, a selfie. He counteracts the chaos with simplicity, using a force field of clichés to block out the noise. It's a Jeter approach that can make Judge seem dull; Rarely is a quote from him considered interesting. It's a targeted tactic that makes the Yankees captain a hugely respected figure in his own small circle.

Which, to be honest, is what matters most to him. That and winning a title.

And with the World Series starting Friday, the Yankees are four wins away from accomplishing something once thought impossible: winning the title with an underperforming Judge. All season long, the big man carried the great franchise on his broad shoulders, leading his team through lulls and troughs with one tremendous swing after another. But in October, Judge scuffled while teammates like Juan Soto, Gleyber Torres and ALCS MVP Giancarlo Stanton took over.

In nine postseason games, the Yankees center fielder went 5-for-31 with just two home runs and an OPS of .704. This is far from terrible, but it's also far from standard. Judge strikes at a higher clip due to more out-of-zone chases. As with any postseason statistic, this is a small sample size and is subject to change at any time. A player this good is always just one shot away from greatness.

That the Yankees reached the World Series with a mediocre Judge is a testament to the strength of the roster. But it also shows that Judge's influence extends far beyond his in-box production. Obviously, a handful of home runs from the man who hit 58 of them this year would be helpful in defeating the Dodgers. But Judge couldn't care less about his final batting line as he ends the series full of champagne and confetti. He could enter the World Series at 0-0 and still be the first player to lift the trophy.

As the slugger of the generation heads into the first Fall Classic of his career, the ultimate goal has never been so close – and the empty space on his ring finger has never been so evident. He knew this when he re-signed with the Yankees in December 2022, accepting the captaincy alongside his groundbreaking contract. He wanted that burden; He chose the pressure cooker. He knows that the impact of any player, especially a Yankee, depends on what is accomplished once the leaves change color. Without championship No. 28, Judge's legacy will forever be incomplete.

Don't expect him to change anything until that happens.