Aaron Judge, the current home run leader in MLB, has decided not to participate in the 2024 MLB Home Run Derby, according to a report from the New York Post. The New York Yankees player is having a strong season and is on track to win his third home run title, hitting his 28th home run of the season. He is currently four home runs ahead of the second-place player, Gunnar Henderson of the Baltimore Orioles.
Judge confirmed that he was asked to participate in the Home Run Derby but declined, stating “There’s no need this year.” Many players in the past have been hesitant to participate in the Home Run Derby due to concerns about the toll it takes on their bodies, superstitions, or simply not wanting to compete.
Judge previously won the Home Run Derby in 2017 during his rookie season, a notable achievement in a season where he also won AL Rookie of the Year honors and was the runner-up for MVP. While he has not competed in the Derby since then, he mentioned that he is not done with it and plans to participate when the event returns to New York.
It is unclear when the next Home Run Derby will be held in New York City, as the next three All-Star Weekends are already scheduled for Texas in 2024, Atlanta in 2025, and Philadelphia in 2026. The last Home Run Derby held in New York was in 2013 at Citi Field when Yoenis Céspedes emerged as the winner. The Yankees last hosted the event in 2008 at the old Yankee Stadium.
After 2026, Yankee Stadium will be one of only two MLB stadiums that have not hosted an All-Star Weekend, the other being Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay. While Judge’s pledge to participate in the Derby may not heavily influence MLB’s decision, it is a positive note for the Yankees as they aim to host the event in the future.