Aaron Judge Reveals Stance on Future Home Run Derby Participation
Aaron Judge, who captivated the baseball world by winning the Home Run Derby as a rookie in 2017, has not participated since and seems unlikely to do so anytime soon.
The New York Yankees star declined an invitation to this year’s derby in Texas, stating he felt there was “no need” to participate this year. However, Judge left the door open for future participation under one specific condition.
“I’m not done with it. Once it’s back in New York, I’ll be there,” Judge told Dan Martin of the New York Post.
MLB has announced the All-Star Game venues for 2025 and 2026, which will be in Atlanta and Philadelphia, respectively. The venues for 2027 and 2028 have yet to be determined, though commissioner Rob Manfred has hinted that Chicago and Toronto are top contenders. This means Judge might have to wait a while for a New York venue.
Notably, the new Yankee Stadium has not hosted an All-Star week yet. The original Yankee Stadium hosted the event in its final season in 2008, while Citi Field hosted in 2013.
Judge has maintained this stance for years and appears steadfast in his decision. Having turned 32 in April, it remains to be seen if Judge will ever get another chance without compromising on his condition.
