Judge, Soto named to All-MLB First Team
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NEW YORK -- The dynamic duo of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto lived up to expectations for the Yankees this past year, powering the club to its first World Series appearance in 15 seasons. Now, they have both been selected to the All-MLB First Team, presented by MGM Rewards.
Judge and Soto were both listed among the sport’s top outfielders, as announced Thursday on MLB Network, with the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts also making the All-MLB First Team outfield.
All-MLB honors, first established in 2019, recognize the best player or players at each position across the Majors each season, with both First Team and Second Team selections.
This is the fourth All-MLB selection for both Judge and Soto, and the third First Team designation for the pair.
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Only regular-season performance was considered by voters, which was weighted 50 percent by fans and the other half by a panel of experts.
Judge batted .322/.458/.701 across 158 games during the regular season, leading the Majors in homers (58), RBIs (144), on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS (1.159), walks (133), times on base (322), game-winning RBIs (24), go-ahead RBIs (32) and position player fWAR (11.2).
He also led the AL in total bases (392) and extra-base hits (95), while ranking third in the Majors in batting average.
“I’m really, really happy with what we did as a duo this year, as teammates,” Soto said after the World Series. “It’s just incredible, out there in the field, inside the clubhouse, how that guy [Judge] manages himself and everything. I was really happy. I really learned a lot of things from him, that was really cool to see. I’m going to take that to my next step.”
Acquired from the Padres in December, Soto batted .288/.419/.569 in 157 games with New York, setting career highs in runs scored (128), hits (166), homers (41), total bases (328) and extra-base hits (76).
Currently a free agent, Soto ranked second in the Majors in walks (129), times on base (299), on-base percentage and runs scored, and third in OPS (.988).
“I’m proud of the year that Juan had,” Judge said after the World Series. “It was fun to come to work with him every single day, [and see] the work he puts in behind the scenes. Even when the guy was hitting .320, I’d see him hitting late after the games if he had an 0-fer. He was showing up early, doing work.
“He’s going to make the right decision for him and his family. We were definitely lucky to have him here. It would be great to keep playing with him, because he’s definitely a special player.”
In 2023, the Yankees’ Gerrit Cole was an All-MLB First Team selection, while Judge (whose season was impacted by injury) made the Second Team.