Carlos Rodón didn’t hesitate. After a weekend series filled with playoff intensity and West Coast electricity, he leaned back, cracked a smile, and gave voice to what many in the Yankees clubhouse had been whispering: Aaron Judge is doing things most players can’t even dream of. The Dodgers had just been steamrolled, not by a full Yankees squad, but by one man repeatedly dismantling elite pitching with the confidence of someone who’s been here before.

Judge’s performance wasn’t loud, it was surgical. The homers weren’t moonshots, but daggers. He worked counts, punished mistakes, and once again made one of baseball’s best teams look helpless. For Rodón, it stirred a memory. Not of a teammate, but of a legend. “There’s no one to compare to, I think… Barry Bonds,” he said. Let that sink in. Barry Bonds. The most feared hitter in the modern era. Mentioning Judge in the same sentence isn’t hyperbole, not from a guy like Rodón.

“But I didn’t play with him[Bonds], I got to watch him,” Rodón continued. “I think that would be pretty close, although Barry for me is still kind of a tier of his own. But [Aaron] is very, very close to that.” That’s not fluff. That’s a major league pitcher, a bulldog competitor, going out of his way to point out that what we’re watching might not just be greatness, it might be rare, historic dominance.

Rodón’s admiration didn’t start this weekend, though. When he arrived in the Bronx in 2023, still nursing an injury, he remembers sitting next to catcher José Trevino, watching Judge slump through a slow start. Trevino didn’t flinch. “Just wait, dude,” he told Rodón. The pitcher shrugged it off. Then came the explosion: Judge went from hitting .170 to a season that looked like something out of a video game. “He’s a joke, dude,” Trevino had said. “He’s a video game.”

And now? It’s happening again, only louder, more precise, more dangerous. Judge isn’t just hitting, he’s imposing his will on games. In a marquee showdown against the sport’s biggest spenders, he didn’t flinch. He thrived. And for a guy like Rodón, who’s seen MVPs, faced Hall of Famers, and isn’t one to throw around praise, the message is clear. We’re not just witnessing a hot streak. We’re watching a modern giant walk among legends.

Why the league is watching Aaron Judge

Aaron Judge isn’t just lighting up scoreboards, he’s making history at a pace that few in baseball have ever matched. As of June 2025, Judge has already racked up milestones that have cemented his place among the game’s all-time greats. Remember his record-setting 62 home runs in 2022? He broke the single-season home run record in the American League that had been standing for 61 years. Despite facing injuries in 2023 and playing 106 games that season, yet managed to blast 37 homers. Combine that with his knack for maintaining a batting average and on-base percentage. You’ve got a player who’s not just a powerhouse but also consistently dominant on the field.

But it’s not just about the numbers on paper. When Judge steps to the plate, pitchers and opposing teams adjust their entire game plan. His presence commands respect and fear, a dynamic force who can change the course of a game with one swing. Let me put it in simple words: Judge has this rare ability to perform under pressure, every single day. The expectations on him are massive, but he embraces them. He’s not just playing the game, he’s defining what it means to be an elite player in today’s MLB.

Judge’s 2025 season continues this trend. As of early June, he’s leading the American League in batting average, hits, and runs scored, all while maintaining his trademark power. He’s not only carrying the Yankees’ offense but also their hopes. The league watches closely because when Judge is on, the game feels different, like something historic is unfolding right before your eyes.

Simply put, Judge isn’t just another star. He’s a force of nature reshaping the narrative of baseball greatness. For fans, for teams, and for every player on the field, Judge’s ongoing journey is a must-watch story, one that will define this era of the game.