Aaron Judge says Yankees need to ‘simplify’ approach amid offensive slump
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The New York Yankees started the 2026 season hot, winning the first eight of 10 games, but things have been frosty since last Tuesday.
The Yankees lost a series to the Athletics and then were swept by the Tampa Bay Rays in a series over the weekend.
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New York Yankees Aaron Judge will be signed to St. Louis on April 11, 2026. He heads to the bench after batting in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla. (Jason Behnken/AP)
Aaron Judge brought up the team’s offensive struggles following Sunday’s 5-4 loss.
“We need to simplify some things at the plate,” the judge told reporters via MLB.com. “We’re trying to make every shot we see out there and put ourselves in some bad counts and bad situations. I think if we simplify our approach as a group a little bit, get the pitches we’re looking for and pass the baton, we’ll be in a better spot.”
Judge was also lethargic because he had three American League MVP awards in the last four seasons and was with Team USA in the World Baseball Classic for a time.
Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees will be signed to St. Louis on April 12, 2026. He hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla. (Jason Behnken/AP)
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Judge hit just .218 with four home runs, nine RBIs and a double through 15 games. Despite Sunday’s two-run home run, he was 2 for 10 against the Rays.
This was the Rays’ first three-game win over the Yankees since 2021.
“We didn’t get a lot of traffic when we needed it this series,” Judge added. “We had one hit most of the game and we hit a couple of those games. I think if guys just take walks when they need to and focus on a pitch they can use, we’ll be in a better spot.”
New York is now 8-7 this season and is in a three-way tie for the lead in the American League East division.
Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees bats during the fifth inning against the Athletics on April 8, 2026 in New York. (Heather Khalifa/AP)
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The Yankees return home for a seven-game homestand on Monday. The team will host the Los Angeles Angels for four games and then turn its attention to the Kansas City Royals.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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