05 April 2023 , 12:42
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Fresh off a record-breaking season you'd assume that Aaron Judge would be hoping for more of the same this campaign, but that isn't the case.
Judge broke the American league record for home runs in a single season last year, after hitting his 62nd against the Texas Rangers to move clear of Roger Maris. Maris held the record since 1961, but it was smashed by Judge who was unstoppable all year.
While Judge may have been on form, he still couldn't lead the New York Yankees to World Series success, and they've failed to secure a title since 2009. Judge is desperate to end that drought, and his mindset will worry their rivals this season.
After re-signing for the Yankees and enjoying some time off after last season, Judge voluntarily chose to get back to work in January at their training complex in Tampa, Florida. Judge was joined by hitting coach Dillon Lawson, who looked shocked as the MLB MVP asked: "So, what do you got for me?"
Lawson replied: "What -- you don't want to just run that one back?" But Judge isn't just focused on individual accolades this season, as he said: "There's got to be more."
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The Yankees won 99 games last season, but still couldn't make the World Series, something that continues to evade them. Judge has called upon his team-mates to start exploring the mind, utilising similar methods to what the MVP has picked up during his career.
Judge is ready to exceed his achievements from last seasonAccording to ESPN, old superstitions that Judge used to have were replaced by meditation apps off the field, and around the clubhouse he even wears a stress-relief device. Judge explained this and more to the locker room, as he said: "holding it in your hands and it vibrates and man, it makes you feel relaxed.
This is all a tool that I use. Look around -- everyone in the league has a bat. Everyone goes to the cage, does drills. Everyone. But somebody that doesn't use this, doesn't use these techniques or doesn't have somebody they can talk to -- I think I've got an edge on them."
With a home run record under his belt Judge certainly has an edge on many, and it's no coincidence that the Yankees re-signed him on a nine-year $360m (£295m) contract. Judge has spent his whole career with the Yankees, and is determined to finally win the World Series for the first time.