If you walk into any sports bar in the Bronx or scroll through baseball Twitter on a random Tuesday, the debate usually isn't about whether Aaron Judge is good. It’s about where he sits in the pantheon of the greats. Specifically, people keep asking: how many MVP does Judge have?
Honestly, the answer has changed fast.
As of right now, entering the 2026 season, Aaron Judge has officially won three American League MVP awards. He took home the hardware in 2022, 2024, and most recently in 2025.
It’s kind of a wild stretch when you think about it. For a long time, the narrative was that Judge was a "what if" player—someone with all the talent in the world but whose body might not hold up. He’s basically spent the last few seasons obliterating that idea. He isn't just winning; he's dominating in a way we haven't seen since the days of peak Barry Bonds or Albert Pujols.
The First One: Breaking the Curse of 61
The 2022 season was when the world really stopped and stared. That was the year he chased down Roger Maris.
Remember the tension? Every single at-bat was being cut into national broadcasts. He eventually hit 62 home runs, setting the new American League single-season record. It was a massive deal.
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He didn't just win the MVP that year; he snatched it from Shohei Ohtani. Now, Ohtani was doing stuff nobody had seen since Babe Ruth, but Judge was so undeniable—leading in home runs, RBIs, and nearly every advanced metric—that he secured 28 out of 30 first-place votes.
He was the engine. He carried that Yankees team.
2024 and 2025: The Back-to-Back Reign
After a weird, injury-shortened 2023 where he literally ran into a wall at Dodger Stadium, people wondered if the peak was over. It wasn't.
In 2024, Judge came back and put up a season that was actually better than his 62-homer campaign in some ways. He hit .322 and posted an OPS of 1.159. That is just stupidly high. He won the 2024 AL MVP unanimously, finishing ahead of Bobby Witt Jr. and his then-teammate Juan Soto.
Then came 2025.
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This one was special because he added a new layer to his game: the batting title. Most 6-foot-7 power hitters aren't supposed to hit for average. Judge did. He finished 2025 with a .331 average to go along with 53 home runs.
He edged out Cal Raleigh in a tight vote to win his third MVP. This win put him in the most exclusive club in Yankees history. Only Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, and Yogi Berra had won three MVPs in pinstripes before him.
Why the Count Matters
When you ask how many MVP does Judge have, you're really asking about his Hall of Fame trajectory.
The "Rule of Three" is a big thing in Cooperstown circles. Historically, almost every player with three MVPs is a first-ballot lock. Judge is now 33, and he’s starting to look like a guy who could realistically push for a fourth or fifth before he hangs them up.
Judge’s MVP Timeline
- 2017: Finished 2nd (Lost to Jose Altuve in a controversial vote).
- 2022: Won (62 Home Runs).
- 2024: Won (Unanimous).
- 2025: Won (Batting Title + 50 HRs).
There’s a legitimate argument he should have four. Many fans still point to 2017 as the "stolen" MVP because of the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal that came to light later. Altuve won it, but if you look at the raw numbers today, Judge’s rookie season was statistically superior.
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What’s Next for the Captain?
The stats are there. The trophies are on the mantel. But the one thing missing is the ring.
Judge was named the Captain of Team USA for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, showing just how much respect he has across the league. He’s no longer just a "New York" star; he’s the face of the sport.
If he stays healthy in 2026, he’s the favorite to win again. The guy is a mountain of a man who has learned how to hit everything from 100 mph heaters to sliders in the dirt.
Actionable Insight for Fans: If you’re tracking Judge’s legacy, keep an eye on his "WAR" (Wins Above Replacement). He currently sits at over 60 career WAR. For context, the average Hall of Famer is around 67. He will likely pass that milestone this year, officially making him a "statistical" Hall of Famer before he even hits his mid-30s. Check his daily splits on sites like Baseball-Reference to see if he’s maintaining that .300 average, which has become his new benchmark for greatness.