Aaron Judge got his 55th home run on Wednesday. The slugger knows well that he has to avoid distractions and stay focused on his record chase. If he can maintain the current pace at which he is hitting homers, the 65 mark is not elusive for him this season.Judge hit his 55th home run over the left-field fence at Yankee Stadium in the fourth inning during the Yankees’ doubleheader against Minnesota. It came off the Twins’ No. 49 Louie Varland.
“I was happy to get a run on the board,” told a delighted Judge said while speaking to the press on Wednesday night.Despite a lineup dominated by backup players, the home run by Judge pushed the Yankees to a 5-4 victory over the Twins. It was the Yankees’ 82nd win of the season.
The Yankees also routed the Twins 7-1 in the second game on Wednesday.At 55 and on his way to getting 65 homers, Judge keeps him in the running for the Most Valuable Player award in 2022. He is likely to face tough competition from Shohei Ohtani, the star player for the Los Angeles Angels.
With 25 games left in the season, Judge is currently on pace to hit 65 home runs, which would establish a new record for the most home runs hit by a Yankee in a single season. He will need to hit a home run once every 2.5 games in order to reach the milestone.Additionally, Judge needs just six more home runs to tie Roger Maris’ record of 61 home runs set in the American League in 1961.Judge had encouraging words for Twins pitcher Louie Varland, who was on the mound when he hit his 55th home run.
“That’s all I can really say. The rookie was making his debut and kind of had us shut down there for a little bit. He had a good quick pace, working all of his pitches. It [the homer] is kind of got some stuff going, got this offense going a little bit,” he told.
With six home runs in April, 12 in May, 11 in June, 13 in July, nine in August, and four so far this month, Judge is inching ever closer to tying Babe Ruth’s record of 60 home runs hit in a single season. At 65 homers, the slugger will equal Mark McGwire’s 1999 run in the Major League. The Cardinal also hit 70 homers in the 1998 season, the second best record after Barry Bonds’ 73 home runs in 2001.
Judge continues to dodge contract questions and criticism to remain focused on his on-game performance.
This season has the potential to be one of the most historic in Major League’s baseball history. If Aaron reaches the 65 mark, it will be the fourth season after 1998, 1999, and 2001 to have at least 65 home runs. Sammy Sosa of the Cubs had 66 home runs in 1998, 63 home runs in 1999, and 64 home runs in 200.
Can Aaron Judge go beyond 65 home runs? How many homers do you think he can hit?
