2024 World Series: The wild, rollercoaster series of Yankees star Aaron Judge

Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees' 2024 season ended in heartbreaking fashion on Wednesday night, as they blew a 5-0 fifth-inning lead to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series, then later watched Los Angeles go on to win the series.

Judge's performance was front and center this postseason, specifically in the World Series, in what was a bumpy five-game stretch for the 2022 — and likely 2024 — American League MVP.

Here are the World Series highlights and lowlights for Judge, who was playing in his first career Fall Classic.

Judge entered the World Series having struggled the previous two rounds. In New York's combined nine games in the American League playoffs against the Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Guardians, he totaled two home runs, six RBIs and 13 strikeouts, while posting a .161/.317/.387 slash line. For perspective, Judge blasted 58 home runs and posted a .701 slugging percentage in the regular season.

[RELATED: Full coverage of the World Series] 

Judge didn't silence the critics in Game 1 of the World Series.

The Yankees led 3-2 going into the bottom of the 10th inning, and, of course, Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off grand slam with two outs. New York left 11 runners on base, with Judge stranding four of them while striking out three times and finishing 1-for-5.

Judge went a combined 0-for-7 in Games 2 and 3, striking out three times.

In Game 2, he left two runners. In the top of the ninth inning, which saw the Yankees draw to within two runs and load the bases with one out, he struck out. Games 2 and 3 were each 4-2 victories for the Dodgers.

With New York staring down a sweep — and Judge's offensive struggles at the center of team scrutiny — the superstar outfielder showed signs of waking