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Pedro Martínez Sends a Message to Pitchers About Aaron Judge

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kristie Ackert | Last updated May 7, 2025 4:56 PM ET

Pedro Martinez, the Hall of Fame pitcher and former Yankees rival, recently took to social media to praise Aaron Judge's evolution at the plate.

In a tweet, Martinez remarked, "He's not the same Aaron Judge I saw last year. He has made the adjustments to go to the opposite field and it shows in his average."

Martinez further emphasized Judge's growth, stating, "He's even more dangerous now than he was when he had 60+ homers. He has improved and matured, and looks better."

This acknowledgment comes as Judge continues to dominate the 2025 season, boasting a .412 batting average with 12 home runs and 34 RBIs. His refined approach at the plate, focusing on hitting to the opposite field, has made him an even more formidable presence in the Yankees' lineup.

Judge is hitting to the opposite field 23.5% of the time, a slight decrease from 25.6% in 2024. However, this is much higher than he did in 2023 or even 2022, when he set the American League record for home runs with 62.

In 2025, Judge boasts a .412 batting average, a .772 slugging percentage, and a .534 weighted on-base average (wOBA), combined with a 56.9% hard-hit and a 23.5% barrel rate, prove Martinez right. Judge is a more dangerous hitter.

And this is coming from a Red Sox pitcher who hated Yankees’ hitters. WIth 219 wins and a career 2.93 ERA, Martinez won three CY Youngs and was easily elected to Cooperstown – where Judge will join him one day.

He followed up his praise for Judge with another tweet playing on his famous comment about the Yankees.

“Mi papá es Aaron Judge!, Aaron Judge is my daddy! “

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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