Yankees' Aaron Judge predicted to steal career-high 20 bases en route to fourth MVP

Feb 21, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (99) hits a home run against the Detroit Tigers during the third inning in a Spring Training game at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images

Entering the 2026 MLB season, the New York Yankees have largely the same roster as they did a year ago. But, as long as Aaron Judge is leading the charge, they will have a chance.

He's been one of the best players in baseball and is heading into the 2026 MLB season as ESPN's second-ranked player, only behind Shohei Ohtani.

But along with that ranking, ESPN's Jorge Castillo predicted that Judge would do something he's never done before: Judge is predicted to steal 20 bases en route to his fourth MVP award.

Yankees' Aaron Judge predicted to steal 20 bases en route to 4th MVP

"Judge slugs 55 home runs, becoming the first player to. recover five career 50-homer seasons," Castillo writes. "He adds a career high 20 steals and wins his fourth American League MVP in five years."

Judge reaching 55 home runs wouldn't be that big of a surprise. He's reached at least 50 in a season four times in his career, and that included a 62-homer and 58-homer season in 2022 and 2024.

But the home runs wouldn't be the surprising part of this prediction. Stealing 20 bases would be a very noteworthy outcome for Judge in 2026.

In his MLB career, Judge has 65 total stolen bases in his 10-year MLB career. He's currently averaging under 10 stolen bases per season.

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If he were to reach 20 steals in 2026, Judge would set his career-high by four steals from his 2022 all-world MVP season.

Judge being predicted to win his fourth MVP in his last five seasons would be impressive enough on its own, but to do so by stealing 20 bases and hitting 55 home runs would be very impressive.

Not many players have been as good as Judge in their careers. And if he does indeed make this prediction come true, then Judge would put up another all-time year onto his resume en route to a Hall of Fame bid five years after he retires.

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