Aaron Judge had yet another dominant season in 2025, taking home his first career batting title, recording his fourth career 50-plus HR season, and more than likely winning his third AL Most Valuable Player Award.
But, just like the past 10 seasons of his career, he and the Yankees won't be celebrating a World Series title at the end of the year.
New York fell short again, getting eliminated by the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALDS on Wednesday after four games.
"It's tough to describe," Judge said of the team's feeling after the loss. "We didn't do our job, didn't finish the goal. Had a special group in here, lot of special players that made this year fun. But we didn't get the ultimate prize, so we came up short."
Judge did all he could against the Jays, hitting .600 (9-for-15) with one home run, six RBI, four walks, and five runs scored. Overall in the postseason, he went 13-for-26 (.500) with seven RBI in seven games. Still, it wasn't enough.
"I think once again it comes down to the little things," Judge said. "Making the little plays, coming with the big hit. If you don't do that, give teams extra outs, they're going to capitalize on it. What a season for the Blue Jays, doing their thing, winning the division, winning the DS.
"For us, we got to clean a couple things up and we'll be right back here."
Manager Aaron Boone was asked similar questions regarding not winning a title with Judge and what he says to him after another special season.
"That's sports," Boone said. "It doesn't mean it's not going to happen, and he and I wholeheartedly believe that it will. Again, you keep working your tail off to get back to this position and punch through."
"Again, I don't take anything for granted in this game. Being in it my whole life, I know how hard it is to win in the end. I have too much respect for the sport and the competition of it for that."
Judge was asked if it gets harder as he gets older to not end the season in victory, saying he's ready to work even more in the offseason to accomplish that goal. The slugger called the 2025 team a "special group" and was upset to let them down, acknowledging the roster will look a bit different next season.
"Yeah it's what you play for, you play to win. And when you don't win, it's not a good year," Judge said. "Just got to put in more work, review the season, see what I can keep doing to try to help this team, put them in the best position to win every single night."
He added: "I felt like we were a complete team, up and down the lineup… I liked our chances all year. It was a special group. Just sucks for the guys that might be their last time wearing pinstripes and not being able to have a long run with them and end it in the championship… disappointed we let all those guys down."
Among the potential free agents includes Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham, who both had "incredible years" per Judge, adding he'd like to see them back in the Bronx.
The team captain is still unsure what the team is missing to get over the hump, but is already to "go back to work" and start spring training.
"That's tough to say right now," Judge said. "Once I'll review the season and go through it I'm gonna have a better answer for you. We had our ups and downs. Tough couple weeks, tough couple months, good months. Just felt like we were just starting to get going here at the end and have a nice little postseason run, but it didn't go our way."
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