Aaron Judge is MLB’s best hitter but the worst base runner – here's why

Aaron Judge, the New York Yankees’ superstar, is hitting better than anyone in baseball, but his baserunning is a problem. His amazing batting stats make him a fan favorite, yet he’s known as MLB’s least effective base runner. According to the recent reports, this contrast explains why Judge’s hitting is incredible, but his base running needs work.Aaron Judge is having an incredible 2025 season, and he’s the best hitter in baseball. His .387 average is the highest in the league, and his 1.242 OPS is Babe Ruth-like. 21 homers and 50 RBIs in 59 games have the Yankees in the mix. His .485 OBP means he’s almost always on base and creating opportunities to score. Last year he hit .322 with 58 HRs, so he’s been great for a while. His power has outfielders playing deeper so he gets more hits. Even with his baserunning struggles, his hitting is so good it makes up for his mistakes. Fans and analysts are in awe of his ability to hit for power and average, and he’s a yearly MVP candidate.Also Read: Why Aaron Judge chooses isolation during Yankees road games despite his massive MLB fameDespite his hitting brilliance, Aaron Judge is MLB’s worst base runner, according to the BsR metric. He’s tried to steal seven bases this season but only succeeded four times, a low 57% success rate. At 6’7” and 282 pounds, Judge isn’t fast, but his poor decisions on the bases hurt the Yankees. Unlike other slow players who play it safe, Judge takes risks that lead to outs.Analysts say Judge needs to be smarter about when to run or steal. His size makes it hard to be quick, but better choices could reduce mistakes. Improving his baserunning could make him an even bigger star. For now, his incredible hitting keeps the Yankees winning, but fixing his baserunning could help the team even more in big games.