Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge had a scintillating slugging display in the 2024 regular season. Even though the postseason has not been the same, Ohtani has proven to be clutch and Judge also homered in the ALCS Game 2 against the Guardians on Tuesday.
Justin Verlander's brother Ben is one of the admirers of Ohtani. The younger Verlander has always picked the Dodgers superstar over Judge on numerous debates, particularly about who had the better season in 2024.
In the latest episode of "Flippin' Bats with Ben Verlander" on Tuesday, Verlander compared Judge and Shohei Ohtani, calling the Yankees captain the best position player in baseball. [5:23]
"Aaron Judge is the best pure hitter," Verlander said. "If we're just talking position player in baseball, I think that answer is Aaron Judge. And I know Shohei, and I will say until the end of time, Shohei Ohtani is the best baseball player I've ever seen."
"I think he [Shohei Ohtani] ocould be the best of all time. I think he's the most talented player ever. But if we're just talking position player, I think the best position player in baseball is Aaron Judge."
Aaron Judge hits first homer of 2024 postseason after Ben Verlander suggested a remedy for Yankees star's slump
Aaron Judge has often faced criticism for his apparent postseason slump after impressive regular seasons. Similar was the case in 2024. Though a section of the baseball community blamed Judge for it, Ben Verlander blamed another issue for the Yankees captain's woes. [9:12]
"I think Aaron Judge is getting a lot of flak in terms of his postseason production, and I get it, I understand it," Verlander said. "But I'm not going to be that, I'm not going to do that right now.
"I think a big part of that reason is because you don't have a good hitter right now behind him. Either move up Giancarlo Stanton or flip-flop Judge and Stanton, and put Judge in the two-hole and Stanton behind him."
Even though the Yankees didn't have a lineup change, Judge had his best performance of the 2024 postseason in ALCS Game 2 against the Guardians. Judge launched a two-run homer off Hunter Gaddis in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Overall, Judge went 1-for-3 with one run, one home run and three RBIs in ALCS Game 2 against the Guardians, which the Yankees won 6-3, taking a 2-0 lead in the ALCS.