Judge ahead of WS match: “Ohtani is the best player...an ambassador to the baseball world”

Aaron Judge

[Imagn Images=연합뉴스] Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Hong Gyu-bin = New York Yankees’ leading hitter Aaron Judge expressed his excitement about facing his ‘rival’ Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers).

The Yankees and Dodgers, who are considered prestigious teams in the two major leagues of American Professional Baseball (MLB), will play the World Series (WS) with 4 wins out of 7 starting on the 26th (Korean time).

The match between Judge and Ohtani, who are likely to be the best players (MVPs) in this season’s American League (AL) and National League (NL), respectively, is a box-office element that focuses the attention of baseball fans.

At a press conference held at Yankee Stadium in New York on the 23rd (Korean time), Judge said, “Ohtani is an impressive athlete and the best player in the game. He is like an ambassador for the sport of baseball.”

Judge said, “Ohtani has good contact ability and good slugging ability. The record he achieved this year with 50 stolen bases received a lot of praise, but I don’t think it was enough. The way he runs around the field is a good example for the younger generation and children.” “I think it will work,” he said.

Ohtani became the first MLB player to hit 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases this year, recording a batting average of 0.310, 54 home runs, 59 stolen bases, 130 RBI, and an OPS of 1.036.

“When Ohtani was with the Los Angeles Angels, we played against him throughout the regular season and I got to see him hit a home run over my head,” Judge said. “It’s great to get the opportunity to play on the biggest stage at a crucial time.” “He said.

This is the first time that Judge, the ‘clean home run king’, appears on the World Series stage.

“I remember the excitement and emotion I felt when I was young and the Yankees won the World Series,” Judge said. “It will be a very special experience and I’m looking forward to it.”

Judge recorded a batting average of 0.322, 58 home runs, 144 RBI, and OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) of 1.159 this year. He ranks 1st in AL home runs, RBI, and OPS, and 3rd in batting average.

Judge hit 62 home runs in 2022, setting the record for the most home runs in an AL season.