Former Yankees star Alex Rodriguez has advised Aaron Judge, the team’s star slugger, that the All-Star needs to perform well in the postseason—specifically, in October—to be regarded as a true New York Yankees legend. The comment comes after the Yankees’ recent World Series loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, where Judge’s October performance was again a point of contention. While Judge has dominated the regular season with MLB-high WAR, home runs, and OPS, his postseason struggles have raised questions about his ability to carry the franchise to a title.
Rodriguez, who is now an owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx, acknowledged that the Yankees’ expectations have evolved since his tenure in the 2000s. He pointed out that the modern era of baseball, with its luxury tax, changing business models, and competitive balance, has altered the path to sustained success. While the Yankees remain a perennial playoff team, the pressure of consistently winning titles has shifted, and the days of a 10-year title streak are long gone.
Despite this, Rodriguez believes that Judge, a homegrown favorite among Yankees fans, still has the talent and opportunity to secure his place in the franchise’s history. “I think he needs a moment like that,” Rodriguez said, referencing his own postseason struggles before the Yankees’ 2009 World Series title. “He’s going to get it eventually because the more at-bats he gets, the more reps he has, and the chances increase.”
The Yankees’ recent matchup against the Dodgers highlighted their struggles against the NL powerhouse, as the team lost two of three games in the series. Although Judge contributed two home runs, the Yankees’ overall performance was lackluster, underscoring the challenges of competing at the highest level. Rodriguez noted that the Dodgers’ dominance is well-established, especially against the American League, and that the Yankees need their full team to even have a shot at knocking them off.
While the Yankees continue to operate as one of baseball’s most respected franchises, the path to sustained success is now more complex than it was in the past. For Judge, the question remains whether he can find that elusive October magic to solidify his legacy as a true Yankees icon.