Because of the way the season ended — and his season ended — there might be some who have forgotten just what kind of year Aaron Judge had.
The kind of year that likely will be rewarded with his second American League MVP award in three seasons.
Judge, teammate Juan Soto and the Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. are the three finalists for a marquee award that will be announced Thursday night.
Judge, the favorite, can become the seventh Yankee to win multiple MVPs, joining Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris and Alex Rodriguez.
The Yankees captain led baseball in a lot, including home runs (58), RBIs (144), on-base percentage (.458), slugging percentage (.701) and OPS (1.159). Until a relatively quiet finish to his regular season, he threatened the franchise home run mark of 62 — which he set in 2022.
If not for a smashed foot into the concrete base of a Dodger Stadium wall in 2023, he might be on the verge of three consecutive MVP awards.
Judge made major league history two seasons ago — and in many ways just authored an even better campaign.
“We’re watching a historically great player now, really, [with] what we’re seeing,” manager Aaron Boone said after Judge’s 58th homer. “Obviously his power speaks for itself, but he takes a lot of pride in being a well-rounded hitter. Like a lot of great players in whatever sport it may be, he is intent and obsessed with trying to get a little bit better at baseball year in and year out.
“I don’t want to get hyperbolic and say he’s gone to another level from [when he] hit 62 homers and won the MVP. I don’t know if it’s another level, but is he incrementally a better hitter today than he was then? I think the answer’s yes.”
Judge’s primary competition this year will be Witt, who did everything for the Royals.
The 24-year-old won a Gold Glove for his work at shortstop, led baseball with a .332 average, posted a .977 OPS and knocked 32 home runs with 31 steals in 161 games.
Kansas City cracked into the playoffs as a wild card and fell to the Yankees in an ALDS.
Soto mounted one of the greatest walk years in baseball history and still was somewhat overshadowed by Judge.
The right fielder managed a .989 OPS with a personal-best 41 home runs and led the AL with 128 runs scored.
Barring a stunner, Judge will win hardware — but more important to Judge will be the hardware he and the team did not win.
The Yankees fell short of a World Series championship, losing in five games to the Dodgers and dropping the final game largely because of a three-mistake inning that included a dropped fly ball from Judge.
In 14 playoff games, Judge went 9-for-49 (.184) with three home runs, 20 strikeouts and a .752 OPS.
His bat had awoken by the end of the series against the Dodgers, but it was too late.
It is unlikely, but Francisco Lindor could become the first Mets MVP ever.
After an outstanding, two-way season, the club’s shortstop is a finalist with the Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte and heavy-favorite Shohei Ohtani.
The Dodgers superstar became the first 50-50 player ever, swatting 54 homers and stealing 59 bases, in an offensively dominant season that almost certainly will be rewarded Thursday with an MVP but did not include any defense for a player coming off Tommy John surgery.
Lindor, meanwhile, was typically excellent at a premium position and often carried the Mets during a surprising run first to a playoff berth and then to the NLCS, finishing with an .844 OPS with 33 homers and 29 steals in 152 games.