NY Yankees’ 2024 ALCS opponent shares bold statement on Aaron Judge and the upcoming season

The 2025 MLB season is fast approaching, and teams are gearing up for the challenges ahead. Among them are the New York Yankees, who believe they’re close to achieving their ultimate goal. To get there, they had to overcome the Cleveland Guardians in the ALCS. One of Cleveland’s key players recently opened up about that series and his performance against Aaron Judge.

Following an impressive season on the mound, Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase reflected on last year’s playoff run. Despite being one of the top pitchers in the regular season, Clase couldn’t prevent the Yankees from advancing to the World Series, largely due to Judge’s standout performance.

Speaking with MLB Network, Clase shared his thoughts on the past season and outlined his approach to improving in 2025. He also addressed the memorable showdown with Judge in the postseason.

“Obviously, it was not the result we wanted. I want to keep working in a way that puts us in a better position this year,” Clase said. Reflecting on Judge and the Yankees‘ postseason success, he added, “My focus is to work a lot harder so that doesn’t happen again.”

Emmanuel Clase #48 of the Cleveland Guardians pitches in the ninth inning against the New York Yankees during Game Five of the American League Championship Series at Progressive Field on October 19, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Clase’s comments on Guardians’ upcoming season

Cleveland had a strong playoff run last season, with their only major setback coming against the Yankees. As the Guardians prepare for the 2025 MLB season, Clase shared his thoughts on the team’s approach and his personal mindset for the challenges ahead.

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“We started working during the fifth inning with the trainer in every upcoming game. Afterward, I’ll watch the game to analyze what I’m going to face and the strategy I should use in each situation,” Clase explained. “That way, when my turn comes, I already know what I have to do, and so do my teammates.”

Cleveland standout discusses facing Aaron Judge

In a conversation with the No Agenda podcast, Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan acknowledged the challenge of playing against Aaron Judge but expressed his determination to compete at his best.

“Baseball obviously requires talent, but it’s also a mental game,” Kwan said. “Look at me, a 5’8” guy, I get to play next to Aaron Judge. No two body types are the same, but the one thing we have in common is being mentally strong. I firmly believe baseball is one of the most mentally demanding sports out there.”

He continued: “Nobody fails as often as we do on a daily basis and is still expected to show up the next day and perform again. That can wear someone down. You need a mindset that allows you to filter that out and move forward.“