Will Aaron Judge participate in the 2024 Home Run Derby?
The home run leader for the 2024 Major League season and captain of the New York Yankees set a condition to participate in the Home Run Derby again.
Major League Baseball has held the Home Run Derby since 1985, and historic players such as Cal Ripken Jr., Ken Griffey Jr., Barry Bonds, and Mark McGwire have won the special event around the All-Star Game.
One of the most important players in recent years in terms of home runs is Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees, but it seems that he will not participate in a Home Run Derby again anytime soon. The ‘Bronx Bombers’ outfielder declared in an interview with the New York Post that he will not participate in the event until it takes place in New York.
“I will not participate. There’s no need to do it,”
Judge said before Game 2 against the Atlanta Braves. “I won’t rule it out yet. As soon as it takes place in New York again, I’ll be there.”
Judge is the leader in home runs in the 2024 Major League season with 28 complete home runs. His closest pursuer is Gunnar Henderson of the Baltimore Orioles, with 24. Behind them is Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers, with 22.
Aaron Judge won the 2017 Home Run Derby
The only time ‘The Judge’ participated in the Home Run Derby was in the 2017 season, his rookie season, and since then, he has not participated in the home run party again.
Judge was the winner of the 2017 edition, held at Marlins Park. On that occasion, he beat Justin Bour of the Miami Marlins 23-22 in the first round, 13-12 over Cody Bellinger of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the semifinal, and beat Miguel Sanó of the Minnesota Twins 11-10 in the title duel.