Yankees' Aaron Judge Cementing Legacy as MLB's Greatest Right-Handed Hitter

Despite a slow start in 2026, the Yankees star's career numbers prove his status as an all-time great.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 2:10am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the various angles and planes of Aaron Judge's batting swing, rendered in a cubist style with bold, overlapping shapes in navy, green, and orange.Aaron Judge's iconic batting stance deconstructed into a cubist masterpiece, capturing the raw power and precision of the Yankees' slugger.NYC Today

Even with a slight dip in production to start the 2026 MLB season, New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is cementing his legacy as the greatest right-handed hitter in baseball history. Judge's career Adjusted OPS+ of 178 is the highest ever for a right-handed batter, surpassing legends like Rogers Hornsby, Babe Ruth, and Ted Williams.

Why it matters

Judge's sustained excellence at the plate over his career has solidified his place among the all-time greats of the game, despite occasional criticism from impatient Yankees fans. His historic offensive numbers demonstrate the remarkable talent and consistency that have made him one of the most dominant hitters of his era.

The details

Through his first seven MLB seasons, Judge has posted a career Adjusted OPS+ of 178, which accounts for era and makes league-average 100. That mark is the highest ever for a right-handed hitter, with only five left-handed batters (Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Oscar Charleston, Barry Bonds, Lou Gehrig) ranking ahead of him all-time. The next-best right-handed hitter, Rogers Hornsby, is eighth on the list at 175 Adjusted OPS+.

  • Aaron Judge made his MLB debut with the Yankees in 2016.

The players

Aaron Judge

A star outfielder for the New York Yankees who is cementing his legacy as the greatest right-handed hitter in MLB history.

Babe Ruth

A legendary left-handed hitter who holds the all-time record for highest Adjusted OPS+ at 206.

Ted Williams

A Hall of Fame left-handed hitter who ranks second all-time in Adjusted OPS+ at 191.

Rogers Hornsby

A Hall of Fame right-handed hitter who holds the eighth-highest Adjusted OPS+ mark at 175.

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What they’re saying

“Hitting is hard, and pitching in this era is better than ever, and yes somehow Judge is still making a case as the greatest right-handed bat of all time.”

— Billy Heyen, Author

The takeaway

Aaron Judge's historic offensive production and sustained excellence over his career have cemented his status as the greatest right-handed hitter in MLB history, even as he faces occasional criticism from impatient Yankees fans. His place among the all-time greats of the game is secure.