Yankees’ Aaron Judge Hypes Shohei Ohtani as MLB’s ‘Best Player’ Ahead of World Series

Doric SamOctober 22, 2024

Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images

New York Yankees star Aaron Judge is likely to take home his second American League MVP award in the last three years, but he believes the title of the best player in baseball belongs to someone else.

While speaking to reporters ahead of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Judge dubbed Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani “the best player in the game.”

Yankees Videos @snyyankees”He’s an impressive athlete, the best player in the game”

– Aaron Judge on Shohei Ohtani pic.twitter.com/ZPIgnynyui

Ohtani is also likely to earn an MVP trophy this year after completing the first 50-50 season in MLB history with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases. He’s playing in the postseason for the first time in his career after leaving the Los Angeles Angels to join the Dodgers, and his star power is likely to grow even more during the World Series.

“He hits for average, hits for power, the speed, doing what he did this season with 50 stolen bases, that got talked about a lot but I don’t think it got talked about enough,” Judge said of Ohtani, going on to call him “an ambassador for this sport.”

Judge also put together a stellar 2024 campaign, hitting .322 and leading the majors with 58 home runs and 144 RBI. Having the two best players in MLB face each other in the World Series is a rarity that won’t be taken for granted.

“Obviously, I’ve gotten to see Aaron now for seven years, got to know him well. Just the reverence I have for the person. Excited that he’s going to get to go be on this stage,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday. “Of course, I know playing against Shohei, what an amazing talent he is, and obviously going to the Dodgers this year and having the kind of season he’s put out there, I think it’s great for the sport, great for baseball, and looking forward to the battle of it all.”

The Yankees and Dodgers will meet for Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night in Los Angeles.