Aaron Judge continues to make history during his rookie campaign.
On Sunday afternoon, Judge picked up his 100th walk of the season. He became the first rookie to walk 100 times in a single season since Jim Gilliam accomplished the feat in 1953.
Round number alert: Aaron Judge’s 100th walk. First rookie to walk 100 times since Jim Gilliam in 1953.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) September 4, 2017
According to Baseball Reference, only five rookies in the history of baseball have ever walked 100+ times in a season. Ted Williams holds the rookie record, as he was issued 107 free passes as a 20-year-old during the 1939 season. With about a month left in the season, Judge has a very good chance of breaking Williams’ record.
Although he has struggled in the second half of the season, Judge has shown his ability to be patient at the plate. His 17.7% walk rate is the third-highest in baseball, as only Joey Votto and Mike Trout have walked more frequently this season.
Judge is also just one of four Yankees to hit 35 home runs and walk 100+ times in their age 25 season or younger. The other three players went on to have pretty good Major League careers.
Yankees with 35+ HR and 100+ BB in age-25 season or younger:
Aaron Judge
Mickey Mantle (1955, ’56)
Lou Gehrig (1927)
Babe Ruth (1920)— Katie Sharp (@ktsharp) September 4, 2017
The 2017 season has been one for the record books for Aaron Judge. Over the next couple of weeks, it will be interesting to see what he can accomplish as the Yankees battle for a playoff spot.
