Part 3/7:
Aaron Judge distinguishes himself from traditional contact-first players like Ichiro and Tony Gwynn by embracing a different batting strategy. While contact hitters typically maintain low strikeout rates and focus on getting on base through consistent placements of the ball, Judge substitutes higher strikeout rates for superior quality of contact.
His remarkable Babip (batting average on balls in play) stats reflect this, as Judge currently leads the league with a formidable 479, thanks to his average exit velocity of 95.5 mph. Judge's ability to barrel the ball better than anyone else elevates his batting average significantly, making him a rare candidate for the .400 club in today’s game.