"Aaron Judge has never let this team down" - Anthony Rizzo reacts to Yankees slugger's emotional reflection on World Series struggles
Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees have their backs against the wall heading into Game 4 of the World Series on Tuesday night. After battling their way through the American League, the Yankees have struggled to get anything going against the Los Angeles Dodgers, falling behind 0-3 in the World Series.
One of the major issues for the Yankees has been the lack of production from their captain. After another historic regular season, Aaron Judge has struggled to replicate the same in the postseason, posting a disappointing .083 batting average with no home runs through the three World Series games.
While much has been made about his struggles, his teammates still have his back. One of those colleagues who has Judge's back is veteran first baseman Anthony Rizzo. The World Series champion, who is no stranger to adversity, addressed the media before the game about the Yankee captain's struggles.
"He's never let this team down. He's there, his presence, who he is in the clubhouse, what he brings to all of us, he's never let us down," An emotion Rizzo told reporters.
Judge's struggles in the postseason have extended beyond this year, as the former AL MVP has been unable to carry his regular season success into the playoffs. Over 56 postseason games, Judge has a .196 batting average with a .733 OPS. That being said, Aaron Judge is one of the most feared hitters in baseball for a reason, and Rizzo remains optimistic that his friend will show up in Game 4.
"He's been such a joy to play with and hopefully his biggest hits of his career are coming up tonight," Rizzo continued.
While Judge may have the support of his teammates and coaches, if he hopes to shed his playoff reputation, he will need to do so as early as possible on Tuesday night. With the Yankees on the brink of elimination, it remains to be seen which Aaron Judge will show up on Tuesday night.
Aaron Judge was named the 2024 Players Choice Awards Player of the Year
Despite his well-documented postseason struggles, Judge has the complete respect of his peers, earning the 2024 Players Choice Awards Player of the Year Award. The New York Yankees captain put on a show this season, leading the MLB with 58 home runs and 144 RBIs.
Several MLB superstars spoke about the Yankees captain, including Shohei Ohtani,, Chris Sale and Jackson Merrill. Even if Aaron Judge's struggles continue through the remainder of the postseason, he will still be considered one of the most dangerous sluggers in the game.