AL MVP Aaron Judge thinks new rules will have him stealing more: “Shorter distance, bigger bases? There’s some bases to be stolen”

Aaron Judge set a career-high and American League record with 62 home runs in 2022 en route to a near-unanimous MVP award. He also set a career high that most fans probably didn't realize with 16 stolen bases.

That was second on the team to Isiah Kiner-Falefa's 22. With new MLB rules making the bases a little bigger, Judge anticipates stealing a bit more often when he gets on base via the New York Post:

“I don’t want to give too many secrets away because I don’t want anybody else reading what I’m thinking. But I’m going to try to replicate what I did last year, maybe add some new things … some new strategies, stealing bases. Shorter distance, bigger bases? There’s some bases to be stolen.”

Judge had a 15.9% walk rate last year and a .425 on-base percentage, so he had plenty of opportunities. If he can replicate that (and pitchers may be even more hesitant to throw him strikes in 2023), he might have a lot of chances to improve that 16 steal total.

Aaron Judge discusses new MLB rule changes

The new rule changes are going to affect everyone, but Aaron Judge is looking at the upsides of all of it. Not only is the bigger base going to make it easier for the slugger to steal, but the pitch clock might, too.

Judge said:

“When a game starts to speed up on the pitcher, and the clock starts the countdown — 3, 2, 1 — ‘I gotta make the pitch.' Me as a baserunner, I see the clock, too, and I know he has to make the pitch. Maybe I can get a little extra jump.”

Judge knows the pitch clock will be a tough adjustment for many pitchers. When the clock is low, he knows they have to pitch and may not have time to make a move to first. That makes it easier for him to get a good jump.

Additionally, if the pitcher has thrown over twice already, then they have to get an out on the third move or it's a balk. That, too, can make it easier to get a jump.