Aaron Judge struggles to hit .400 with high strikeout rate

In the current season, baseball player Aaron Judge is attempting to achieve a batting average of .400, a feat last accomplished by Ted Williams in 1941. Ted Williams, who batted .406 that season, had a notably lower strikeout rate, only striking out 27 times across 456 at-bats, significantly contributing to his success. In contrast, Judge has struck out in more than 20% of his plate appearances, requiring a batting average of .500 on the strikes he manages to make contact with to sustain a .400 average overall. As it stands, Judge has recorded 55 hits out of 99 plate appearances where he did not strike out, showcasing impressive performance that may be difficult to maintain throughout the season. The challenges faced by current players like Judge arise from the evolution of the game, particularly with changes in the structure of seasons and the introduction of strategies that lead to increased strikeout rates. Many players before the 1962 expansion of the MLB season are celebrated for their abilities to achieve higher batting averages, making it increasingly rare in modern contexts. Historical comparisons highlight the attempts of various players, including Wade Boggs, to reach similar batting averages but encountering similar challenges in sustaining them over the length of a season. With changes in player strategy and league dynamics, it remains to be seen whether Judge can maintain his current success and challenge the modern hitting standards that have developed.