As the New York Yankees look to gear up for the 2025 MLB season, one of their star players, Aaron Judge, has already received a concerning warning from a familiar face: former MLB closer Jonathan Papelbon.
Judge, the two-time American League MVP, experienced a significant dip in performance during the 2024 postseason. Despite hitting three home runs across 14 games, his overall line of .184/.344/.408/.752 was far from the MVP-caliber play Yankees fans have come to expect. While New York still managed to reach the World Series, Judge’s struggles raised questions about his ability to deliver when the stakes are highest.
Papelbon, a former All-Star closer for the Boston Red Sox, is now worried that these struggles could carry over into the 2025 regular season. Appearing on the Foul Territory podcast, the former pitcher explained his concerns, citing the mental aspect of the game that he believes could affect Judge’s performance.
“Here’s the thing at the end of the day, all baseball players are mental, man,” Papelbon stated. “They all are. We’re just built that way and we press. I mean, I’ve pressed, we’ve all pressed at certain times. I think that the pressing from what he showed in the playoffs is gonna just continue… I think he’s gonna be going up against much better pitching staffs in the AL East this year… Honestly, I think the struggles continue.”
Papelbon’s comments might sound harsh, especially given Judge’s track record of success, but the ex-closer’s prediction is not without merit. The AL East has some of the toughest pitching staffs in the league, and if Judge’s postseason issues linger, it could make for a challenging year ahead.
That being said, Papelbon didn’t completely write off the Yankees star’s potential. He offered that Judge may need to find an additional source of motivation or mental focus to rediscover his dominant form.
“I think he’s gonna have to find something else that propels him,” Papelbon said. “I know he’s a regular season player, but the first month to me is gonna be very interesting.”
While Judge has been remarkably consistent in the regular season when healthy, the pressure of overcoming postseason struggles—and the intensified competition in the AL East—could present a significant test for the Yankees’ slugger.
Papelbon’s bold prediction will surely fuel conversation as Judge prepares for what could be a defining year in 2025. Can the reigning AL MVP bounce back? Or will the mental burden of his postseason struggles affect his performance all year long? Yankees fans are certainly hoping Judge will prove his doubters wrong.
