Aaron Judge continues to amaze, and his latest home run has him on pace to join elite MLB company.
After going deep to the opposite field in Tuesday’s series-opening win over the Mariners, the Yankee captain is now on pace for 60 home runs this season, which would be his second 60-homer campaign in the last four years.
The only other sluggers in league history to post multiple 60-homer seasons are Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. Both did it in 1998 during their record-setting home run chase, with McGwire smashing 70 home runs and Sosa 66. McGwire followed that up with 65 in 1999, while Sosa broke 60 two more times, swatting 63 in 1999 and 64 in 2001.
Judge’s solo shot on Tuesday was his sixth home run in his last nine games, pulling him within one of the league lead, currently held by Cal Raleigh, who has 35 and is currently in the Bronx for Seattle’s series against the Yanks.
That lasted all of two innings before Raleigh went deep for his 36th of the year.
Still, Judge had already become the first player ever to hit 33 home runs before the All-Star break in three different seasons, and for the third time in his career, he has set or matched the Yankee record for home runs before the break.
Raleigh may be the league’s home run leader, but Judge looks to be on the fast track to a third MVP award, which would be his second in a row.