Keith: How many home runs could Aaron Judge realistically finish with?

A caller asked Keith how many home runs Judge could finish with now that he has become the fastest player to 300 bombs, and Keith says the number should likely start around 500, which is the typical sure-fire lock to get a player into Cooperstown.

“It’s about health,” Keith said. “I’m not sure of his trajectory…but I’ll say this about Judge: he’s prolific, he’s gotten to this mark, and you’d expect him to get to 400 and 500 quickly.

“If he stays healthy, this is what he does. If they pitch to him, this is what he does.”

Health would be a major question, and his late arrival into the major leagues, as Judge’s rookie season was in 2017 and he is already over 30 years old. But when Judge is healthy, his power is undeniable. As for pace, as producer Rami Lavi noted, if Judge hits 10 home runs the rest of the way and averages 40 a year for the rest of his contract, he would be at 590 home runs, right on the cusp of the historic 600.

If Judge can get that close, Keith says he should go for 600 in pinstripes.

“You think about him slumping in April and all the intentional walks he has, it’s crazy. You think about the injuries and missing all the time he did last year and years before,” Keith said. “Judge is not like something we’ve ever seen. I don’t think we’re ever gonna see it again.

“As long as he can stand in that box and swing that bat, he can be the DH here.”