In recent weeks, Aaron Judge has been such a dominant force at the plate that opposing teams have routinely opted to intentionally walk him rather than risk his powerful bat. Managers have repeatedly chosen to put him on base, preferring to pitch to any other Yankee over the slugger who has been on a torrid hitting streak for months.
However, on Wednesday night, an unexpected decision led to a historic moment. In a surprising move, the White Sox intentionally walked Juan Soto, bringing Aaron Judge to the plate. The slugger seized the opportunity, launching a towering three-run home run, the 300th of his career, and propelling the Yankees to a commanding 10-2 victory at Guaranteed Rate Field.
This milestone cemented Aaron Judge’s place in history as the fastest player in Major League Baseball to reach 300 home runs. He accomplished this in just 955 games and 3,431 at-bats, surpassing the previous records held by Ralph Kiner, who did it in 1,087 games, and Babe Ruth, who reached the mark in 3,831 at-bats.
While his teammates celebrated his historic achievement, Aaron Judge remained typically humble. He acknowledged the significance of the milestone but emphasized that he still has much more to achieve in his career. Aaron Judge expressed particular satisfaction that his milestone home run came in a game where the Yankees had been trailing and struggling to generate offense, making the victory even sweeter.
“It’s a great achievement,” the Yankees slugger said after the win. “I’ve been in the game a little while now I guess — we still got a long way to go — but like I said a couple days ago, I was hoping it’d come in a win. It came in a big win for us. We were down for a little bit and couldn’t get much going. So I was just excited it was in a big moment.”
The historic blast came in the eighth inning, off a 3-0 pitch from right-handed reliever Chad Kuhl. Despite the pitch being an inside sinker off the plate, Aaron Judge made solid contact, sending the ball 361 feet for his 43rd home run of the season. The moment not only highlighted his remarkable talent but also underscored his ability to deliver in crucial situations, even when pitchers try to avoid him.
Juan Soto couldn’t help but marvel at Aaron Judge’s extraordinary achievements, calling them nothing short of astonishing. He emphasized the remarkable speed at which the Yankees captain has reached significant milestones, describing it as unbelievable and a testament to his talent.
“That’s really impressive what he’s been doing and how quick he’s been doing it,” Soto said. “When you look at it, just incredible. So fast and so unbelievable.”
White Sox surprises by role reversal for Aaron Judge
The Yankees (72-50) clinched a crucial series win against the struggling White Sox (29-93) on Chicago’s South Side, with Aaron Judge’s pivotal home run pushing their lead to 9-2.
The White Sox’s decision to intentionally walk Soto and pitch to Aaron Judge in the eighth inning left many in the Yankees’ dugout both surprised and perplexed. With one out and a runner on second, and the Yankees leading 6-2, the White Sox opted to bypass Soto, who had been on a tear with four home runs in his previous five plate appearances between Tuesday and Wednesday.
It was only the second time in Aaron Judge’s career that the batter before him was intentionally walked. On August 31, 2016, the Kansas City Royals walked Chase Headley in the 13th inning just before Aaron Judge took to the plate.
This was Soto’s first intentional walk of the season, highlighting the respect opposing teams have for Aaron Judge’s presence in the lineup. Soto admitted he thought the White Sox might walk both him and Aaron Judge or at least pitch cautiously to him. Yankees catcher Austin Wells described the move as “crazy.”
Even manager Aaron Boone was taken aback by the decision, noting his surprise but also his eagerness to see how it would play out. “Wow … but then you kind of want to see what’s going to happen now,” he told about it.
Interestingly, Aaron Judge was perhaps the only Yankee unfazed by the White Sox’s strategy. He reasoned that given Soto’s recent hot streak, which included three home runs in the previous game and another to start the current one, the decision to walk Soto made sense from a strategic standpoint.
Reflecting on the situation, Soto noted that the White Sox’s choice of pitches to Aaron Judge was a miscalculation, and they paid the price for it.
The historic ball from Aaron Judge’s milestone 300th home run conveniently landed in the White Sox bullpen, making it easy for Yankees security to retrieve it. The slugger mentioned his plans to give the ball to his wife, Samantha, as a keepsake of this significant moment.
Aaron Judge’s path to 300 home runs has been filled with remarkable achievements. In 2022, he made headlines by breaking Roger Maris’ American League single-season home run record with 62 homers. Earlier, in 2017, Judge set the MLB rookie record with 52 home runs, a mark later surpassed by Pete Alonso.
Now 32, Aaron Judge is the leading contender for what could be his second MVP award. His performance on Wednesday lifted his batting average to .333, with a stunning 1.174 OPS, positioning him on track to potentially hit 57 home runs this season.
Manager Aaron Boone expressed his awe at the performances of both Aaron Judge and Soto, noting the rarity of having two players excel at such an exceptional level simultaneously. He praised Aaron Judge not only for his athletic achievements but also for his leadership, highlighting the team’s collective excitement over his captains accomplishment. Boone remarked that Judge’s recent seasons have placed him among the all-time greats in baseball history.
Soto praised Aaron Judge’s potential for even greater accomplishments, suggesting that he might one day challenge Barry Bonds’ all-time home run record of 762. Soto emphasized his captain’s consistent power and expressed hope that Judge remains healthy enough to pursue such a historic feat. He added that he eagerly anticipates witnessing Aaron Judge’s future milestones.
“I hope he breaks the home run record,” he said with a reference to Barry Bonds’ record. “Why not? I think he’s the guy who can literally break the record. He’s been showing it off every time. I hope he got the health to do it. I’m going to enjoy it as much as I can, too.”
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