Shohei Ohtani vs Aaron Judge: The Big, Beautiful Build
The hype machine that fed the narrative that Shohei Ohtani and his hybrid talents separated him from the rest of MLB has ground to a halt. All things being equal, the comparisons concerning the best now must include another in the conversation and he just happens to be a two-time MVP himself. Aaron Judge is making the case that he is the Alpha and the Omega of MLB in 2025. The race for a triple crown is in the cards. The long-awaited rematch has arrived between the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees and it will offer the two best players in the game which is all the build baseball needs.
The MVPs of the game are both tall and agile and run the bases well. However, when you break down their talents statistically you see Judge and Ohtani possess weapons that move back and forth across the world stage like Wargames and Mutual Assured Destruction. Judge strikes hard, doubling Ohtani in WAR. Ohtani responds with a slight edge in runs. Judge strokes the hits with high averages as well as RBI's like a multi-entry missile disbursement. Ohtani stays ahead with deeper penetration via the home run and stolen bases which reveal his stealth. Both behemoths are avoided similarly with walks. A look at the damage totals reveals Judge edging ahead occupying more territory with the OPS flag, slugging artillery, and total bases which implies more field occupation.
If it was a game of RISK it would be said Ohtani won many battles, but Judge conquered more countries. The area that separates these two now is defense. Judge is a premier right fielder who steals home runs and dives everywhere to absorb potential hits. He has a cannon for a right arm. He is fast for his build and he covers a lot of ground something Juan Soto never could do. Shohei is a Designated hitter and the case is closed.
The build surrounding these two rivals begins again tonight and Judge and Ohtani know the score. The Yankees come in hot with a seven-game winning streak while leading the AL East. The Dodgers after a fast start have leveled off but still lead the NL West. Ohtani has a flair for the dramatic while Judge has a chip on his shoulder that began since Game Five of last year’s World Series when the drop heard around the world begat the drive to prove that he will not be defined by the moment. Shohei has the ring but not the performance numbers as he will be remembered as the man who hit .105 in the series and laid out at second on a slide. Judge broke a toe running through a fence in this very stadium. The build is exquisite. The only thing remaining is whether it will be a good read.
