Aaron Judge Sets Home Run Record
The home run trend shows no signs of slowing down, and Aaron Judge is right at the center of it. Even though the Yankees suffered a 5-2 loss to the Cubs on Saturday, Judge achieved a remarkable milestone, becoming the fastest player in Major League history to reach 350 career home runs.
Judge hit two home runs to right-center during the game, reaching this milestone in just 1,088 games. It’s quite an impressive feat, really.
“To be honest, there wasn’t much to it,” Judge remarked with a broad smile, shrugging it off after the match. “It would have been great to win today, of course.”
He continued, “I’m blessed to have incredible teammates and a supportive team that has put me in great positions to succeed.”
It’s worth noting, his journey in baseball has been stunning. He hit 52 home runs in his first full MLB season in 2017, followed by breaking the American League record with 62 home runs in 2022.
“It’s amazing,” said Aaron Boone, the Yankees’ manager. “I honestly don’t know what else to say. Seeing Judge reach such a number is quite special. The fact that he did it 200 games quicker than Mark McGwire is a testament to his talent.”
Following Judge, the next closest players to that milestone are McGwire (1,280 games), Juan Gonzalez (1,298), Alex Rodriguez (1,301), Harmon Killebrew (1,319), and Albert Pujols (1,320). Interestingly, only Killebrew is in the Hall of Fame, while the others have faced various controversies over performance-enhancing drugs. Pujols won’t be eligible for induction until 2028.
When asked if he’s had any conversations with McGwire, who famously hit 70 home runs in 1998, Judge mentioned, “We talked a bit. I got to know him during that interaction.”
“There’s nothing wild there. Big Mac has made a huge impact in baseball, and it was really cool to meet him and chat a bit,” he added. “He’s definitely something special.”
As for Judge’s performance this season, he’s batting .358 and leads the league with 35 home runs before the All-Star break, surpassing his previous record of 34 in a single season.
