In the heated MVP race between Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh, the New York Yankees aren’t letting their star slugger’s case go quietly. While Judge stays true to his reserved nature, rarely hyping himself up, the Yankees’ social media team is out here swinging for the fences—throwing shade with surgical precision.
Thursday’s action was another chapter in the ongoing saga of Judge vs. Raleigh, a battle that feels like a daily referendum on who deserves the American League MVP crown. After a wild Wednesday where both players smashed multiple home runs, Judge crossed the 50-homer mark, while Raleigh surged past an eye-popping 60. For some voters, Raleigh’s historic power display seemed to seal the deal. But don’t tell that to the pinstripe faithful or the growing chorus of Judge supporters.
Despite Raleigh’s jaw-dropping numbers, the undercurrent of support for Judge remains unshakable. Legendary writer Jayson Stark is firmly in Judge’s corner, arguing that the focus on Raleigh’s monster season has overshadowed Judge’s own historic campaign. With a performance over 100% better than the average batter—again—Judge is making a case that’s hard to ignore. ESPN’s Jeff Passan echoed this sentiment on The Pat McAfee Show, revealing that MLB players he’s spoken to are nearly unanimous in backing Judge for MVP.
Then there’s the unspoken argument, the one written in the language of the game itself. Critics claim Raleigh is “carrying” the Mariners to the playoffs, while Judge benefits from a “loaded” Yankees lineup that could thrive without him. So why, then, is Judge the one rewriting the American League record books with intentional walks? In Thursday’s 5-3, sweep-clinching victory over the White Sox, Judge was intentionally walked twice, pushing his total to a record-setting mark. The Yankees’ social media team didn’t miss their chance to flex, dropping a cheeky Aaron Judge GIF to highlight the achievement. If you think that tweet wasn’t aimed at a certain someone in Seattle, you don’t know ball.
Embed X: https://twitter.com/Yankees/status/1971414812501606668
Meanwhile, Raleigh’s Friday started with a meatball pitch he couldn’t have cared less about, going 0-for-4 in a performance that did little to bolster his case. The contrast couldn’t be starker: Judge, commanding so much respect that pitchers refuse to face him, versus Raleigh, who’s still getting pitches to hit.
Of course, Judge’s AL intentional walk record, while historic, isn’t touching the all-time mark. That belongs to Barry Bonds, who racked up an untouchable 120 intentional walks in 2004—reaching Judge’s current total by June. It’s a humbling reminder of the game’s stratospheric peaks, much like when Judge’s 62 home runs in 2022 set an AL record but still fell short of Bonds’ 73.
For now, Judge’s AL intentional walk record stands tall, a testament to his dominance that Raleigh can’t claim this weekend. The Yankees’ well-timed tweet wasn’t just a celebration of their captain—it was a not-so-subtle jab in the MVP debate, reminding everyone that Judge’s impact goes beyond the box score. As the season winds down, one thing’s clear: the Yankees are all-in on their guy, and they’re not afraid to let the world know it.