ATLANTA — The timeline tells a compelling story. Alex Rodriguez played his final game nine years ago. Aaron Judge debuted the following day. On Sunday, their paths converged in Yankees history.
Judge crushed his 351st career home run at Truist Park, matching Rodriguez’s sixth-place position on the franchise’s all-time list. The 409-foot shot off Grant Holmes carried extra weight for the Yankees captain as the team won the series in Atlanta.
“Just an incredible honor, especially growing up watching A-Rod for so many years and watching him do what he did with pinstripes,” Judge said. “He’s a legend, one of the best to ever play. So getting to tie him with the Yankees, that’s pretty cool. But there’s more to come.”
That final statement revealed Judge’s mindset. This wasn’t just another milestone. It was a promise. Also, this time the Yankees captain showcases visible fire after the record milestone. This was notably absent when he surpassed St. Louis Cardinals legend Mark McGwire on June 23 for most first-inning home runs in 78 games.
Historic pace continues for Aaron Judge
Judge’s 36th homer this season puts him on track for 60. He knows that territory well, having blasted 62 in his record-breaking 2022 campaign. Only Seattle’s Cal Raleigh (38) has more homers in the majors this year.
The climb continues. Yogi Berra’s 358 and Joe DiMaggio’s 361 sit within reach. At his current clip, Judge could surpass Lou Gehrig’s 493 by 2027. Mickey Mantle’s 536 looms beyond that. Then comes the ultimate prize: Babe Ruth’s 659 Yankees homers.
At 33, Judge shows no signs of slowing down.
Team-first mentality prevails
Aaron Judge deflected personal glory after the Yankees secured a 4-2 series victory against Atlanta.
“Good series win,” Judge said. “That’s what it’s all about. You want to win every game, but it didn’t come out the way we wanted it to the first night and started a little slow the second night.”
The Yankees rebounded from Friday’s defeat and Saturday’s early five-run hole. Trent Grisham’s ninth-inning grand slam Saturday sparked a 12-9 thriller. Sunday brought cleaner execution with Marcus Stroman’s strongest performance since August — six innings, one run — and Giancarlo Stanton’s 3-for-4 showing that lifted his average to .286.
“A lot of gritty at-bats, a lot of gritty performances from our pitchers in some big spots when we needed them,” Judge said.
A slice of MLB and Yankees history
During Rodriguez’s dozen-year tenure with the Yankees, he accumulated 351 home runs across 1,509 games, logging 6,520 plate appearances and 5,557 at-bats before his departure from the Bronx. While Rodriguez was receiving accolades for his distinguished career, Judge was competing at the Triple-A level when he learned of his promotion to the Yankees the following day.
Following an extended drive to join the team, Judge connected for a home run in both his inaugural plate appearance and at-bat. Aside from setbacks due to injuries during 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2023, the Yankees captain has maintained a consistent power display that eventually matched Rodriguez’s achievement totals.
Judge achieved his 350th home run milestone this past Saturday, coinciding with Matthew Boyd securing his first double-digit win season. He equaled Rodriguez’s mark during his initial at-bat on Sunday as the Yankees executed flawlessly and departed Atlanta victorious in both contests following a troubled post-All-Star break performance. Judge accomplished Rodriguez’s Yankees home run milestone in just 1,092 games. His current tally stands at 351 homers across 3,928 at-bats, averaging one long ball per 11.1 at-bats, while Rodriguez averaged one homer every 15.8 at-bats during his Yankees career.
Should Judge sustain this production rate, he would be nearing the 500-homer plateau by the time his Yankees at-bat count equals Rodriguez’s total, which Rodriguez compiled between ages 28 and 40.
Judge’s home run against right-handed pitcher Grant Holmes marked his 36th of the current season and his inaugural blast at Truist Park, representing the 32nd different Major League venue where he has homered. This achievement places Judge alongside Willy Adames, Randal Grichuk, and Carlos Santana in a tie for third place among active players for most ballparks conquered. Only Giancarlo Stanton (36 parks) and Manny Machado (34 parks) have surpassed this mark.
Different energy this time
Judge has reached numerous milestones quietly. This one felt different. The emotion in matching Rodriguez reflected Aaron’s evolution from promising rookie to franchise cornerstone to Yankees legend in progress.
His declaration rings clear: “There’s more to come.”
The chase continues.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
