by In 2025, Aaron Judge is authoring a season for the ages with the New York Yankees, positioning himself to achieve a feat not accomplished by a Yankee since Derek Jeter’s remarkable 2012 campaign: a 200-hit season. Jeter, the last Yankee to reach this milestone, recorded 216 hits in 2012 with a .316 batting average over 159 games, leading the majors in hits at age 38. Now, Judge, with 99 hits through June 14, 2025, is on pace to become the first Yankee since Jeter to join the elite 200-hit club, a testament to his evolution from a power-hitting slugger to a complete hitter. This article explores Judge’s 2025 pursuit, his career arc, the significance of the 200-hit milestone, and how his current performance compares to recent 200-hit seasons, all while highlighting his quest to add this achievement—and a World Series title—to his storied resume.
The Judge bangs his gavel. #ALLRISE pic.twitter.com/Yyf6YlH7ie
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 14, 2025
Judge’s 2025 Season: A Statistical Marvel
As of June 14, 2025, Aaron Judge’s stat line is staggering: in 68 games and 254 at-bats, he has 99 hits, 17 doubles, 2 triples, 26 home runs, 60 RBIs, 65 runs scored, 45 walks, and 72 strikeouts. His .390/.488/.746 slash line yields a 1.234 OPS, leading the majors in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, OPS, and hits, while tying for the lead in RBIs. On pace for 246 hits, 55 home runs, 42 doubles, and 466 total bases, Judge is threatening Babe Ruth’s 1921 record of 457 total bases. His .461 BABIP ranks among the highest in recent history, reflecting his ability to make consistent, hard contact.
Judge’s 99 hits through June 14 put him on a trajectory to surpass 200 hits, a rare feat in modern baseball. Since Jeter’s 2012 season, no Yankee has reached 200 hits, and only five players league-wide have done so from 2019 to 2024: Whit Merrifield (206 in 2019), Rafael Devers (201 in 2019), Freddie Freeman (200 in 2022, 211 in 2023), Ronald Acuña Jr. (217 in 2023), and Luis Arraez (200 in 2024). Judge, traditionally a power hitter, has lowered his strikeout rate to 20.3% in 2025 from 24.3% in 2024 and 30.7% in 2017, showcasing improved contact skills that make a 200-hit season plausible.
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Comparing Judge’s Pace to Recent 200-Hit Seasons
To gauge Judge’s pursuit, let’s compare his 99 hits through June 14, 2025, to the hits accumulated by June 14 in the seasons when players reached 200 hits from 2019 to 2024:
- Whit Merrifield (2019, 206 hits): 86 hits (68 games).
- Rafael Devers (2019, 201 hits): 79 hits (68 games).
- Freddie Freeman (2022, 200 hits): 76 hits (63 games).
- Ronald Acuña Jr. (2023, 217 hits): 94 hits (66 games).
- Freddie Freeman (2023, 211 hits): 89 hits (66 games).
- Luis Arraez (2024, 200 hits): 91 hits (69 games).
Judge’s 99 hits surpass all but Acuña’s 2023 total, positioning him ahead of the pace set by most recent 200-hit seasons. With approximately 94 games remaining, Judge needs about 101 hits (1.07 per game) to reach 200. His current 1.46 hits per game suggest he could exceed this mark if he maintains even 75% of his pace, assuming he stays healthy after playing 159 of 163 games since April 2024.
From .179 to .390: Judge’s Transformation
Judge’s path to this historic season began with a challenging debut. In 2016, he hit .179 over 27 games, striking out 42 times in 84 at-bats (44.7% strikeout rate). Despite his 95.5 mph average exit velocity, his high strikeout rate exposed a need for refinement. That offseason, Judge worked with hitting instructor Richard Schenck to overhaul his swing, focusing on consistency and plate discipline. “There’s just see ball, hit ball,” Schenck said in 2025, noting Judge’s swing is now “automatic.” This transformation paid dividends in 2017, when Judge hit .284, smashed 52 home runs, and won the AL Rookie of the Year award.
Since then, Judge has steadily improved, reducing his strikeout rate to 20.3% in 2025 while hitting .390. His ability to hit .500 against pitches 95+ mph and handle breaking balls has elevated him from a power threat to a batting average leader. This evolution mirrors Jeter’s own resilience in 2012, when, at 38, he overcame an early-season slump to lead the majors with 216 hits, earning a Silver Slugger and a seventh-place AL MVP finish.
Judge’s Career: A Legacy in Progress
Judge’s 2025 season builds on a career filled with accolades. A six-time All-Star and two-time AL MVP (2022, 2024), he holds the AL record for most home runs in a season (62 in 2022) and reached 300 career home runs faster than anyone (955 games). With 1,124 career hits, 340 home runs, and a .295 batting average through 2025, Judge is a modern Yankees legend, drawing comparisons to Jeter, who finished with 3,465 hits and a .310 average.
Yet, two goals remain unfulfilled: a World Series title and a 200-hit season. Despite a .205 postseason average and 33.1% strikeout rate, Judge delivered clutch home runs in the 2024 ALCS and World Series. A championship in 2025, with the Yankees at 42–25, would pair perfectly with a 200-hit season, echoing Jeter’s 2009 season, when he hit .334, won his fifth World Series, and finished third in MVP voting.
The Significance of 200 Hits for Judge and the Yankees
A 200-hit season would be a defining moment for Judge, aligning him with Jeter, who achieved eight 200-hit seasons, tying Lou Gehrig for the most in Yankees history. Since Jeter’s 2012 season (.316, 216 hits), no Yankee has reached this mark, making Judge’s pursuit a historic milestone. Unlike contact specialists like Jeter or Arraez, Judge’s potential 200 hits would pair with 50+ home runs, a rare combination last seen with Alex Rodriguez in 2001 (52 HR, 200 hits). This dual threat would solidify Judge’s 2025 as one of baseball’s greatest seasons.
Jeter’s 2012 season, at age 38, was a masterclass in consistency, with 64 multi-hit games and a .347 road batting average. Judge, at 33, is emulating this with 66 multi-hit games in 2024 and a .390 average in 2025. His .400 pursuit, while challenging (no player has hit .400 since Ted Williams in 1941), remains plausible, and even a .350 finish would likely secure 200 hits.
Looking Ahead: A Season for the History Books
Judge’s health, with only four games missed since April 2024, is key to his 200-hit chase. If he sustains his 1.46 hits per game, he could challenge Jeter’s 216 hits or even Ichiro Suzuki’s 262 in 2004. A Triple Crown, third MVP, and World Series title are also within reach, with the Yankees poised for a deep postseason run. Judge’s 2025 season, blending Jeter-like consistency with Ruthian power, is redefining what’s possible in modern baseball.
From a .179 rookie to a .390 superstar, Aaron Judge’s journey reflects his relentless drive, much like Jeter’s in 2012. A 200-hit season would not only mark a career first but also cement his legacy as a Yankees icon, bridging power and precision in a way few have achieved. As Judge chases history, fans are witnessing a season that may stand alongside the greatest in baseball lore.
