Aaron Judge’s stats surge as Juan Soto settles in pinstripes; Is there a Yankees power race?

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In Wednesday’s game, Aaron Judge‘s powerful performance drew admiration from his teammates. As Judge rounded the bases following his 38th career multi-homer game, Nestor Cortes caught Marcus Stroman expressing awe — “Oh man, this guy’s incredible”— at the Yankees captain’s abilities.

Manager Aaron Boone acknowledged Aaron Judge’s relentless drive to improve, suggesting that this continuous development is a hallmark of his greatness. “He just kind of keeps getting a little better all the time,” the Yankees skipper said. “I think that’s what greatness is.”

To many both in the Bronx and outside, Aaron Judge’s recent surge is reminiscent of his historic 2022 campaign when he shattered the American League record with 62 home runs. His two-homer display on Wednesday has him on pace for another potential 60-home run season.

Nestor Cortes, drew a striking comparison between Aaron Judge’s current form and his historic 2022 season when Judge shattered Roger Maris’ long-standing record of 61 home runs set in 1961. Cortes pointed out that the slugger at-bats this season often end in either a home run or a walk, much like during his record-breaking run.

“I watched this in 2022, all year. It felt like every time he was up, it was either a homer or a walk. And that’s exactly what’s happening now,” he acknowledged after the Yankees trounced the Guardians 8-1. “It speaks to what he is and what he does and the way he goes about his game. He comes here every single day prepared and ready to work and he puts everybody on his back and we’re ready to rock.”

Is Soto’s presence making judge more competitive? After the game, Aaron Judge shared how he and Soto push each other to new heights, expressing gratitude for having Soto as a teammate. He emphasized that their mutual drive has been a key factor in their performances this season.

“We’re constantly pushing each other. We’re lucky to have [Soto] and we’ve got to keep pushing to the end.”

Although Juan Soto also made headlines by setting a personal season record with his 36th home run, Judge’s performance stood out. Aaron Judge launched a two-run homer in the third inning and followed it with a solo shot in the seventh, bringing his MLB-leading total to 47 home runs. Remarkably, Aaron Judge has achieved this in just 125 games, with 35 games still remaining in the Yankees’ season.

Aaron Judge often speaks about the unique insight he gains from watching Soto hit from the on-deck circle. Likewise, Soto frequently observes the captain’s at-bats from the base paths, giving both players a close-up view of each other’s approach at the plate.

The team’s manager echoed this sentiment, noting how the two stars motivate each other to excel. He pointed out that their complementary styles— Aaron Judge being right-handed and Soto being left-handed—bring balance to the lineup. The manager also praised their deep respect for each other and the joy they find in performing well together.

“There’s an element of that, no doubt about it,” the Yankees manager said. “Two guys (who are) that great, back to back, I think they root for one another. I think they really appreciate each other. One (is) right-handed, one (is) left-handed. They are different in how they do it. I think they have an appreciation for one another and I think they like doing what they did tonight together.”

As for his own aspirations, Aaron Judge reiterated his dedication to continuous improvement. He made it clear that his ultimate goal is to help the Yankees win a World Series, and that his commitment to getting better each season will drive him until the day he retires. The slugger underscored the importance of staying hungry, acknowledging the game’s demands and his determination to give it his all in return.

“Until I take the jersey off my back, I want to try to get better every single year and do whatever I can to help the Yankees win a World Series,” he said. “That’s why I’m here. I try to never be satisfied. This game’s given me a lot, and I’ve got to try to give my all to the game.”

Aaron Judge’s numbers climb post-Soto arrival

Nestor Cortes praised Aaron Judge for his unwavering preparation, work ethic, and leadership, noting how his performance serves as a catalyst for the entire team. The slugger’s impact goes well beyond his power at the plate. He currently leads the major leagues with 117 RBIs and holds the second-highest batting average in baseball at .334, just behind Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals, who is hitting .352.

Recent numbers underscore Aaron Judge’s torrid stretch at the plate, with five home runs in his last six games, six in his previous nine, and 15 over his last 32 contests.

Some analysts argue that Aaron Judge’s 2024 season could surpass even his MVP-winning 2022 campaign, during which he garnered 28 out of 30 first-place votes. After a slow start in April, he now tops the majors in several critical categories, including home runs, RBIs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, extra-base hits, and total bases. Aaron Judge is also second in both batting average and walks.

Cortes expressed deep admiration for Aaron Judge’s achievements, suggesting that even if the season ended today, the Yankees captain year would still be remarkable. He eagerly anticipates the season’s final stretch as Aaron Judge continues his stellar play.

“His season could end right now and it would be a really good, special year for him,” the Yankees pitcher said. “So with a month and 10 days left, whatever it is, it’s going to be fun to watch.”

In Wednesday’s matchup, Aaron Judge and Juan Soto were the driving forces behind the Yankees‘ offense, accounting for all of the team’s runs. The former tallied three RBIs, while the latter added five, including a bases-clearing double in the fourth inning that widened the Yankees’ lead to 7-0.

When asked about what stands out most to him about Aaron Judge, Soto pointed to his captain’s remarkable power and unwavering consistency. Soto praised Aaron Judge’s ability to deliver high-quality at-bats in any situation, whether the team is comfortably ahead or trailing. Soto expressed admiration for this mindset and noted that he strives to incorporate the same approach into his own game.

“I would say his power,” he said. “He’s just incredible. And the consistency that he has. I think that’s one of the things that I admire the most. It doesn’t matter if the game is 10 runs up or 10 runs down, he’s going to take a great at-bat and try to do damage to the other team. I think that’s one of the things I admire most and I try to do the same thing.”

Aaron Judge’s multi-homer game record is particularly impressive, as he has notched the most such games—38—since 2017. His recent performance has been nothing short of stellar, with five home runs over his last six games and six in his last nine. This also marks the 12th time this season that Aaron Judge has homered in back-to-back games.

He has also set a new milestone, becoming the player with the most career home runs (304) within their first 960 games in major league history.

Juan Soto’s walk in the third inning set the stage for Aaron Judge to seize an opportunity, as he launched a hanging curveball from Joey Cantillo into the right-field seats. This marked the 11th time this season that both Soto and Aaron Judge have homered in the same game—a combination that has led to Yankees victories in nine of those 11 contests.

Boone highlighted the synergy between Soto and Aaron Judge, pointing out how their performances complement each other despite their differing styles—Soto swinging from the left side and Aaron Judge from the right. Boone observed that the two seem to feed off each other’s success, enjoying their shared impact on the game.

The pairing of Soto and Aaron Judge has earned them a place among the Yankees’ all-time greats. They join the ranks of only two other legendary duos—Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig (in 1927, 1930, and 1931) and Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris (in 1961)—who have both hit at least 36 home runs each in the first 127 games of a season.

Soto expressed his admiration for Aaron Judge’s power and consistency, particularly noting the captain’s ability to deliver high-quality at-bats in any situation. Whether the Yankees are comfortably ahead or facing a deficit, Aaron Judge’s approach remains the same, always looking to make a significant impact on the game. Soto finds this mindset especially inspiring and strives to emulate it in his own play.

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