Aaron Judge breezes past MLB’s fastest 250-HR milestone, shifts focus to 2024
- September 2, 2023
- 9:45 am
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Follow UsThe New York Yankees may be struggling this season, but they can take solace in Aaron Judge‘s historic achievements. In his 810th career game, Aaron Judge achieved the remarkable milestone of 250 home runs, making him the quickest player in MLB history, encompassing both the American League (AL) and National League (NL), to reach this feat.
The powerful hitter launched a leadoff home run on the first pitch he saw in the fifth inning against the Houston Astros on Friday at Minute Maid Park. This blast increased Aaron Judge’s season home run count to 30 and his career total to 250. The ball traveled a distance of 426 feet and played a pivotal role in the Yankees’ 6-2 victory.
Before Aaron Judge, Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies, achieved the 250-home run milestone in 855 games. Following Howard, there were Ralph Kiner (871 games), Harmon Killebrew (905 games), and Albert Pujols (933 games) to complete the updated top five in terms of reaching this feat.
Aaron Judge’s 250th blast
In the game against the Astros, Aaron Judge smashed a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning on the very first pitch. What’s even more remarkable is that this solo shot came off the pitching of Justin Verlander, a three-time Cy Young Award winner.
Aaron Judge’s home run, launched off an 83 mph slider, soared deep into right field, ultimately reaching the train tracks over the stands. This impressive 426-foot home run marked the 30th of the season for the 31-year-old. It’s quite a feat for the Yankees’ captain, especially considering he missed half of the season due to a toe injury.
Aaron Judge reached his 250 career home run in just 810 games, surpassing Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies, who achieved this milestone in 850 games back in 2010.
This accomplishment places Aaron Judge in elite company, considering he boasts a career slugging percentage of .586, the highest among all active MLB players. It’s worth noting that Judge, at 31 years old, isn’t the youngest player to reach 250 home runs, as he made his MLB debut relatively late at the age of 24. Some fans might also attribute his achievement, in part, to the hitter-friendly dimensions of Yankee Stadium.
Aaron Judge’s 250th career home run came remarkably quickly after his first full season with the Yankees in 2017. This milestone homer was his 30th of the season, an impressive feat considering he missed almost two months earlier in the year due to a toe injury.
In the 2022 season, Judge has maintained a strong performance, batting .265/.392/.622 with 62 runs and 57 RBIs. This performance follows his MVP-winning season, in which he smashed 62 home runs, breaking Roger Maris’ long-standing American League single-season home run record of 61, set back in 1961. Judge has continued to lead the Yankees both on and off the field.
Aaron Judge shifts focus to Yankees’ 2024 season
Aaron Judge’s return to the Yankees wasn’t aligned with their current situation. Missing the playoffs and facing the prospect of a losing season, along with releasing established players to make way for prospects, seems more in line with the actions of small-market teams, not the Yankees.
Aaron Judge finds it hard to fathom how quickly and significantly the Yankees have declined. Just last season, they were division champions and made it through a playoff round. The Yankees superstar expressed his discontent with the current situation, stating that it’s not ideal to be in this position. He emphasized his disappointment, particularly in light of their successful season last year, which saw them reach the ALCS.
Aaron Judge had opportunities to sign with other teams, like the Padres and the Giants, who offered lucrative contracts with substantial lengths. These deals were tempting as they would have allowed him to play close to his hometown and for teams he admired. However, he ultimately chose to return to the Yankees when they matched the Giants’ offer by adding an extra year and $40 million. Judge wants to clarify that his decision to return wasn’t solely motivated by financial gain, a desire to enhance his legacy or the expectation of becoming the Yankees’ captain.
Unfortunately, the Yankees are unlikely to make the playoffs this year, marking the first time they’ve missed out since 2016, which was Aaron Judge’s pre-rookie season. Their current record of 65-69 suggests they are heading for their first losing season since 1992, which happens to be the same year Aaron Judge was born. To finish with a winning record, they would need to achieve a 17-11 finish or even an 18-10 finish to extend their streak of 31 consecutive winning seasons. However, given their young lineup, this seems improbable.
Aaron Judge shared his disappointment in the way this season unfolded, expressing the expectation for a different outcome.
In Houston on Friday night, the Yankees introduced two more of their highly regarded prospects to the big leagues: center fielder Jasson Dominguez and catcher Austin Wells.
All four of these prospects are expected to be featured in the lineup, joining forces with rookie shortstop Anthony Volpe. Volpe’s remarkable performance was underscored by a three-run, game-tying homer with two outs in the ninth inning on Thursday, an achievement that propelled him to a 20/20 season with 20 home runs and 21 stolen bases. Notably, even Derek Jeter did not accomplish a 20/20 season as a rookie shortstop for the Yankees.
Aaron Judge expressed his excitement about witnessing the emergence of the young players and emphasized the importance of looking ahead to the future. He highlighted the need to maintain a forward-focused mindset, emphasizing that dwelling on past events, whether over the past few months, days, or series, would only have a lingering negative impact. Aaron Judge underscored that with a month of baseball still ahead, the team’s primary focus should be on each upcoming day and the potential contributions of the young talent.
Throughout the season, Aaron Judge has played multiple roles for Volpe, serving as a friend, mentor, and avid supporter. He’s prepared to extend the same support and guidance to the new batch of emerging young talents in the Yankees, often referred to as the “Baby Bombers.”
Aaron Judge mentioned that he intends to have conversations with the new players. He plans to engage with them before their initial game, during the game, and post-game, discussing various insights and tips he has gathered from observing other players that could benefit them.
Additionally, Aaron Judge expressed his intention to gauge the comfort level of these players and their communication preferences. He believes that building familiarity and a sense of ease with them is crucial, as players who feel comfortable on the field are more likely to perform at their best.
The Yankees slugger holds a special excitement regarding Jasson Dominguez, the compact and powerful outfielder known for launching colossal home runs much like Aaron Judge, and he possesses switch-hitting prowess. Aaron Judge has been well aware of Dominguez’s journey ever since the Yankees signed him for $5.1 million from the Dominican Republic in the summer of 2019.
Throughout this period, he has encountered remarkable comparisons, likening Dominguez to legendary figures like Mickey Mantle and Mike Trout. Aaron Judge eagerly anticipated the opportunity to witness Dominguez in action, and when he finally had that chance during last spring’s 11 games, he found it truly captivating.
Now, starting this weekend, Aaron Judge will have the privilege of assessing whether Dominguez has reached the level of readiness for the major leagues.
Aaron Judge conveyed his excitement about witnessing Jasson Dominguez’s journey in the major leagues. He expressed happiness for Dominguez, acknowledging the hard work he has put in. Aaron Judge recognized that despite Dominguez’s youth, this is the ideal moment for him to gain firsthand experience in the big leagues. This experience will serve as valuable preparation for the future, helping Dominguez understand the demands of the major leagues. Judge stressed the importance of embracing both the good and challenging days, emphasizing that accumulating experience is the key objective.
Aaron Judge also holds a strong interest in observing Austin Wells’ performance. As the Yankees’ first-round draft selection in 2020, Wells brings significant offensive contributions from the left side of the plate. He has posted impressive numbers this year, tallying 17 home runs and 72 runs batted in during 96 games, with his most recent 33 games played at the Triple-A level.
However, Aaron Judge acknowledges that Wells’ throwing ability as a catcher requires substantial improvement. This is evident from his stolen base to caught stealing ratio in the minors this year, which stands at a striking 101 to 15.
Aaron Judge expressed his anticipation and excitement for both Austin Wells and Jasson Dominguez. He mentioned that he has already had the chance to get to know Austin a bit and engage in conversations with him, and the experience has been positive. Similarly, regarding Dominguez, while he was somewhat reserved during spring training, Judge believes that as they spend more time together in the big leagues, they will be able to bring him out of his shell and foster a more open and comfortable atmosphere.
Looking ahead to 2024, Aaron Judge anticipates a significantly improved state for the Yankees. He envisions a scenario where the team benefits from anticipated offseason enhancements, a mix of established veterans like himself, and possibly some of the promising young talents gaining experience during the September period as they audition for the upcoming season.
Aaron Judge’s confidence in a brighter 2024 outlook is evident as he even ventured to make a prediction. He emphasized his resolve to address and rectify the team’s problems, emphasizing his determination to do so.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
- Categories: aaron judge, derek jeter, jasson dominguez, Mickey Mantle, oswald peraza
- Tags: aaron judge, derek jeter, jasson dominguez, Mickey Mantle, oswald peraza
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