Aaron Judge ‘hasn’t really been that hot yet’ – that’s what Yankees Manager Aaron Boone said amid all the two cents coming in all over the media from several analysts and pundits. Despite his purple patch this season, such a comment from the manager himself has sparked a lot of debate, leading to comparisons with the legends of the game. But is he amongst the greatest of the games produced? Well, a few beg to differ. 

With phenomenal numbers behind him at the start of the season (.400 batting average, 12 homers, 1.241 OPS), Judge propelled the Yankees to the top of the division, even without Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton. This season, his plate discipline has improved with a career-low strikeout rate of 20 per cent, placing him amongst legends like Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth. 

Yet, before going ahead and crowning Judge as one of the greatest hitters of all time, some analysts have urged caution. In a recent episode of Baseball Tonight with Buster Olney, seasoned analyst Tim Kurkjian conceded to Judge’s dominance but refrained from placing him above the legends of the past. 

“I’m going to say he’s not the greatest right-handed hitter of all time. Rogers Hornsby’s lifetime was .358, he hit .400 for five years, at .424 one year, he won a triple crown… so I can’t put anyone above him because of career value,” Kurkjian told Buster.

Judge’s current stretch might be historic, but Kurkjian’s loyalty to legends like Rogers Hornsby reminds fans that longevity and cumulative brilliance still shape baseball’s greatest debates. But the prominent ESPN analyst and contributor acknowledged that Judge’s performance is unparalleled in the modern era. He also mentioned the key metrics that set him apart, placing him in a league of his own. 

“Now, when it comes to present value, like prime value, he might be the best right-handed hitter I’ve seen the last two years… Aaron Judge is, and he’s just laughing as he piles up extra-base hits, on-base percentage out of this world, ridiculous OPS, and he’s doing it while keeping his strikeouts down, while playing a very good outfield, and running the bases,” Kurkjian continued.

The analyst clearly provides more weightage to the career value of Horsnby in comparison to the current prime value of Judge. For Kurkjian, it’s more about longevity and sustained excellence. It is also a matter of how Judge’s career arc transpires henceforth, despite having a terrific 2022 season, followed by a transformative 2024 season, and now a red-hot start to the ongoing season.

Meanwhile, the status of Hornsby remains untouchable for the seasoned analyst with 2,900 hits, 301 home runs, and 1,500+ RBIs, in a career spanned over a decade. This probably explains why Kurkjian refuses to crown the modern-day hero of the sport.

But is everyone thinking alike?

Analysts are divided on Judges’ GOAT status amid a prolific run

While Kurkjian has displayed a considerable amount of restraint in heaping praises for the Yankees’ superstar, several other analysts and prominent players from the past have had no hesitation in elevating Judge to the pinnacle of batsmanship, at least in the current era.

Former All-Star pitcher and MLB Network analyst Dan Plesac recently affirmed that Judge is the best hitter in baseball today. “He’s a nightmare. He hits velo; he hits spin; he hits spin from righties,” Plesac said during one of the shows on the network.

Also, the brother of MLB pitcher Justin Verlander, Ben Verlander, weighed in with his verdict on the Shohei Ohtani vs Judge debate. “If we’re just talking position player in baseball, I think that answer is Aaron Judge,” mentioned Verlander, the host of the ‘Flippin’ Bats’ podcast.

Joining in the chorus, David Schoenfield of ESPN pointed out that Judge achieved the highest adjusted OPS ever for a right-handed batter in the 2024 season, surpassing Hornsby. Many analysts and insiders have even placed their bets on Judge winning the MVP award for the third time in four seasons.

Well, Aaron Judge, you’ve your fair share of support there! And why not!

The domination of ‘All Rise’ is undeniable. Historic numbers, evolved plate discipline, and leadership in every facet of the game. Yet, while analysts almost unanimously project him as the 2025 AL MVP, voices like Kurkjian remind us that greatness isn’t just about NOW, but about legacy. Judge may be baseball’s most fearsome hitter today, but to be the greatest, he still has many more chapters to write.

Let’s hear it from you: Do you crown Judge as one of the legends in the making?