New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge, the reigning American League MVP, has started the MLB season with a bang, displaying the same dominant form that cemented his place among baseball’s elite. Recognizing this, a legendary former Boston Red Sox player and Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez has offered his take on how to handle the feared Yankees slugger.
With four home runs in his first four games and a .400 batting average, Judge is proving once again why he is one of the most dangerous hitters in MLB. His scorching start follows a season in which he crushed 58 home runs, leading the Yankees deep into the postseason, though they ultimately fell short of reaching the World Series, losing to Shohei Ohtani’s Los Angeles Dodgers.
Judge recently addressed speculation about his bat, firmly dismissing the idea that he’s using a “torpedo” bat and reaffirming his confidence in his approach:
“What I did the last couple of seasons speaks for itself,” Judge said, per The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner. “Why try to change something if you have something that’s working?“
Pedro Martinez’s advice
Pedro Martinez, the legendary Hall of Famer who battled the Yankees in countless classic matchups, knows firsthand the challenge of facing elite hitters. On Tuesday night, he offered blunt and strategic advice for pitchers tasked with containing Judge.
“Pitcher advice: When you’re up against Aaron Judge and find yourself in trouble… just walk him,” Martinez tweeted. While this advice might seem at odds with Martínez’s ultra-competitive nature, it underscores the reality of Judge’s game-changing power.
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A Hall of Famer’s wisdom
Martínez’s suggestion isn’t an admission of defeat—it’s a calculated strategy. Judge’s ability to turn the tide of a game with one swing makes him a nightmare for opposing pitchers. In many situations, the smartest move might be to limit his chances rather than risk a devastating home run.
For MLB pitchers, Martínez’s advice is worth considering. While issuing an intentional walk might not always be the ideal solution, the sheer dominance Judge has displayed—especially early in the season—suggests that sometimes, caution is the best course of action.
