Aaron Judge Had A Fiery April, But Was It Better Than What Cody Bellinger Did in 2019?
Aaron Judge is off to an unreal start in 2025. The Yankees superstar has been absolutely tearing the cover off the ball, drawing nightly comparisons to Barry Bonds and getting praise from analysts who are struggling to find new superlatives. Some are even calling his first month one of the best in MLB history.
But here’s what nobody wants to admit. Cody Bellinger had a better April in 2019, and the numbers prove it.
Aaron Judge’s Start Is Legendary – No Doubt About That
There’s no denying that Judge has looked like a baseball cheat code this season. Through the first month, he’s batting .427 with 10 home runs and 32 RBIs in just 117 at-bats. His on-base percentage is over .520, and his OPS is sitting at a jaw-dropping 1.282.
He’s leading the league in average, OPS, total bases, and WAR. On MLB Central, Mark DeRosa didn’t hold back, saying:
“I just think we’re watching peak Barry Bonds when we watch Aaron Judge every night.”
That’s the kind of praise reserved for the absolute best of the best. Add to that the fact that Judge plays in the Bronx under the bright lights of Yankee Stadium, and it’s no wonder he’s getting MVP buzz before May.
But as dominant as he’s been, it’s time to talk about what Cody Bellinger did six years ago because it’s arguably the greatest opening month we have ever seen.
Cody Bellinger Was Better – And Somehow Forgotten
In April 2019, Cody Bellinger put together a month that was statistically superior to what Judge is doing now. He hit .438 with 14 home runs and 37 RBIs in just 109 at-bats. His OPS? A mind-blowing 1.397.
Let’s be clear, Bellinger had a higher batting average, hit more home runs, drove in more runs, and posted a significantly better OPS than Judge, all in fewer at-bats.
| Stat | Aaron Judge (April 2025) | Cody Bellinger (April 2019) |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 27 | 31 |
| At-Bats | 117 | ~109 |
| Batting Avg | .427 | .431 |
| Home Runs | 10 | 14 |
| RBIs | 32 | 37 |
| OPS | 1.282 | 1.397 |
He also broke records. Bellinger set the MLB record for most hits before May with 47 and tied the record for most home runs before May with 14. His 37 RBIs before May 1 are also the highest ever for that stretch. And he wasn’t just hitting, he was doing everything at an MVP level.
Also Read: Pirates Fan Falls: Did the Pittsburgh Fan Jump Intentionally?
The Only Difference? Hype
So why does it feel like Judge’s start is being hailed as the greatest ever, while Bellinger’s historic April is barely mentioned? One word: hype.
Judge is the face of baseball right now. He’s the reigning MVP, the captain of the Yankees, and he plays every night under the biggest spotlight in the sport. When he hits a homer, it trends. When he goes 3-for-4 with a moonshot, the media explodes.
Bellinger? He was on fire in 2019, but he did it more quietly. The Dodgers were stacked. The league was in a “juiced ball” era, and people expected inflated stats. Even though he dominated every leaderboard, the buzz never quite reached the fever pitch that Judge is enjoying now.
None of this is meant to downplay what Aaron Judge is doing. He’s been spectacular. But when we talk about the best first-month performances of all time, we can’t let recency bias rewrite history.
Cody Bellinger’s April 2019 was better. Better average, better power, better run production, and better efficiency.
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