Aaron Judge’s Hitting Coach Criticizes Yankees’ Player Development Amid Team Struggles

In a recent social media post, Richard Schenck, the personal hitting coach of Yankees captain Aaron Judge, criticized the Yankees’ player development system while praising Judge’s performance. Schenck’s tweet highlighted the team’s poor performance despite Judge’s MVP-caliber hitting, stating, “They’ve lost 13 out of 18 while he’s hitting like an MVP. The Yankees offensive player development is terrible.”

Aaron Judge and Aaron Boone respond to criticism from Judge’s personal hitting coach https://t.co/9G1o3HtwRw pic.twitter.com/c4M0UEu7nv

— SNY (@SNYtv) July 6, 2024

The post was in response to a July 4 tweet from YES Network, quoting broadcaster Michael Kay, who remarked on Judge’s influence on the team’s success: “He hits, they win. That simple.” When asked about Schenck’s comments before a game against the Red Sox, Judge stated he was unaware of the remarks and indifferent to social media opinions, suggesting inquiries be directed to Schenck.

Judge, who continues to work with Schenck biweekly, acknowledged the coach’s significant role in his development since his AL Rookie of the Year season in 2017. Yankees manager Aaron Boone also downplayed the criticism, acknowledging that public scrutiny is expected, especially during challenging stretches for the team. Boone emphasized the importance of staying focused on the game and not getting distracted by external opinions.

In the midst of these comments, Judge returned to the designated hitter spot for the second consecutive game. Boone indicated that Judge would likely serve as DH more frequently due to Giancarlo Stanton’s strained left hamstring, which could sideline him until August. This arrangement allows Judge to get some physical rest while utilizing Gold Glove center fielder Trent Grisham more often.

Aaron Judge’s personal hitting coach trashes Yankees for ‘terrible’ offensive development https://t.co/2hQ032cyL4 pic.twitter.com/yM6SYCZVz9

— New York Post (@nypost) July 4, 2024

Judge agreed with Boone’s strategy, recognizing the need to stay out of center field to maintain the team’s best lineup configuration. He noted the importance of giving Grisham more opportunities in center field, especially considering his defensive accolades. Judge, who will be starting in the AL All-Star lineup alongside teammate Juan Soto, appreciated the chance to ease his workload ahead of the All-Star break.

On Friday night, Grisham returned to center field following a mishap the previous day against Cincinnati. Boone addressed the error with Grisham, emphasizing the need to maintain focus and perform routine tasks correctly, particularly during challenging times for the team. Boone praised Grisham’s defensive skills and stressed the importance of balancing his natural ease at the position with attention to detail.

Aaron Judge’s personal hitting coach isn’t happy 😡 🤣 pic.twitter.com/XqKp7aQz03

— DraftKings Sportsbook (@DKSportsbook) July 5, 2024

Major Points:

• Aaron Judge’s hitting coach, Richard Schenck, criticized the Yankees’ player development system on social media, highlighting the team’s poor performance despite Judge’s MVP-level hitting.
• Schenck’s comments were in response to a statement praising Judge’s impact on the team’s success, suggesting inquiries about the remarks be directed to Schenck.
• Judge continues to work biweekly with Schenck, who has been instrumental in his development since 2017, while Yankees manager Aaron Boone downplayed the criticism, focusing on team performance.
• Judge is expected to serve as the designated hitter more frequently due to Giancarlo Stanton’s hamstring injury, allowing Gold Glove center fielder Trent Grisham more playtime.
• Grisham, returning to center field after a recent error, received guidance from Boone to maintain focus and perform routine tasks correctly, emphasizing defensive skills and attention to detail.

James Kravitz – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News