Yankees’ Aaron Judge leads MLB in this frustrating stat

In New York’s 7-0 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday, Yankees captain Aaron Judge went 0-for-3, continuing his slow start to the season.

In the top of the third inning, frustration boiled over for Judge (3-for-24, .125 BA) after umpire Scott Barry called strike three on a 3-2 pitch that seemed low.

Part of Judge’s aggravation likely stems from his rough first week of the season, but it may also be because he’s frequently a victim of these botched calls.

According to Codify on “X,” the 6-foot-7 Judge has seen 160 pitches over the plate but below the strike zone called a strike between 2017 and 2023, 63 more than the next-closest hitter. Despite that disadvantage, Judge remains one of the most fearsome hitters in MLB over that span, belting 253 home runs and driving in 562.

The 31-year-old has also improved his eye and plate discipline, finishing in the 93rd percentile for pitches chased in 2023, per Baseball Savant, a career-best and nine percentile improvement from 2022.

Even with the struggles of their three-hole hitter, New York’s offense is booming. The Yankees (5-1) have scored at least four runs in five of their first six games.

Even more encouraging for the Yankees is they’re forcing pitchers to work hard for each out, with Juan Soto and Anthony Volpe leading the way.

New York has seen 163.2 pitches per game as a team this season. In the first two games against the Astros, the Yankees struggled to score against their starting pitchers. The Bronx Bombers were much more successful when facing Houston’s bullpen.

On March 30, Houston’s Cristian Javier held New York scoreless through six innings before the bullpen imploded, allowing seven runs over the final three frames. Unsurprisingly, the fewest pitches the Yankees have seen (131) came in the shutout loss to the Diamondbacks on Tuesday.

Throughout a 162-game season, there will naturally be some bad results, but the Yankees’ patient approach at the plate will help them return to the postseason. And if Judge gets going, look out.