Aaron Judge is crowned AL Most Valuable Player after his historic season with the New York Yankees, pipping last year’s winner Shohei Ohtani by claiming 28 out of the 30 first-place votes!
MLB star Aaron Judge has been awarded the American League Most Valuable Player award following his historic season with the New York Yankees.
The slugger saw off the challenge of last year’s winner and two-way player Shohei Ohtani to claim MVP for 2022.
There was little doubt that he would collect the honor, after vaulting himself into the pantheon of Major League Baseball greats when he broke Roger Maris’ American League single-season home run record, smashing 62 homers in the regular season.
MLB star Aaron Judge has been awarded the American League Most Valuable Player award
There was little doubt that he would collect the honor, following his historic 2022 season
Judge collected 28 of 30 first place votes to beat Los Angeles Angels pitcher Ohtani and Houston Astros star Yordan Alvarez in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
‘It’s tough to put into words. It’s an incredible moment. A lot of hard work throughout the years,’ Judge said.
‘It means a lot.’
Judge entered free agency earlier this month and it remains uncertain whether or not Judge will go back to the Yankees, who were swept by World Series winners the Houston Astros in the postseason.
Judge collected 28 of 30 first place votes to beat Los Angeles Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani
General manager Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone have both expressed a desire to bring the slugger back, although he could reportedly fetch a contract north of $300 million.
With the price that high, there’s no guarantee Judge is back in New York next season, and the Los Angeles Dodgers or San Francisco Giants could reportedly be the team that pries the star away.
Anthony Rizzo said he hopes ‘good friend’ Judge chooses to re-sign with the Yankees ‘for the sake of the game’ this week.
Rizzo is not the only member of the Yankees organization who has openly spoken on wanting Judge back, as owner Hal Steinbrenner recently said that he has ‘made it clear’ to Judge that the team will do everything they can to make him stay.
Cashman also recently said that if the team could ‘wave a magic wand’ and secure Judge they would do so to have him back under contract as soon as possible.
Several other teams including the Texas Rangers, cross town rival New York Mets, and Judge’s hometown favorite Giants have all reportedly expressed interest in signing him to a contract that is expected to exceed $300m.
Meanwhile, his record-breaking 62nd home run ball is up for sale this month after the fan who caught it rejected a $3m offer.
.