Yankees’ Aaron Judge ties Mark McGwire’s 25-year-old home run record

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CINCINNATI — Aaron Judge has once again found his name etched into the MLB record books, this time alongside one of baseball’s most prolific sluggers.

The New York Yankees captain launched his 11th first-inning home run of the season Monday night in a game against the Cincinnati Reds, tying a historic mark held by St. Louis Cardinals legend Mark McGwire. According to Baseball Reference’s Katie Sharp, Judge and McGwire now share the record for most first-inning home runs through a team’s first 78 games.

McGwire originally set the record in 2000, not during his legendary 70-homer campaign in 1998, making Judge’s achievement even more remarkable.

Judge’s fast starts fueling Yankees

Judge’s homer came in his very first plate appearance, a trend that has become common this season. With 28 total home runs on the year, nearly 40 percent have come in the opening frame. The slugger has repeatedly set the tone early, helping the Yankees establish leads and energize the lineup from the outset.

“That’s who he is, that’s what he’s capable of,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said recently, praising Judge’s knack for big moments early in games.

The Yankees often slot Judge second in the batting order to maximize his plate appearances early in games. His ability to punish pitchers who try to challenge him before they settle into a rhythm has proven to be one of the club’s most valuable offensive weapons.

Historic company

Judge’s early-game tear places him in rare air. Before this season, no player since McGwire had managed 11 home runs in the first inning through 78 games. Not even sluggers like Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, or Babe Ruth reached that number so quickly in that specific context.

McGwire’s 2000 campaign, often overshadowed by his 1998 chase, was still impressive despite being shortened by injuries. He hit 32 home runs in just 89 games, with more than a third of those coming in the first inning by midseason.

Judge now joins McGwire in that exclusive category, and with nearly half the season remaining, he has a real chance to break the record outright.

The numbers behind the swing

Through June 24, 2025, Judge is hitting .293 with 28 home runs, a .425 on-base percentage, and a slugging percentage above .650. His OPS leads the American League. First-inning splits only underscore his dominance: pitchers know the danger, but few have found answers.

Nearly every one of Judge’s first-inning home runs this season has come on a pitch in the zone, showcasing his approach and timing.

Yankees’ early firepower

The Yankees entered Tuesday with a 45–33 record, holding a narrow lead in the AL East. Judge’s ability to strike early has played a major role in that success. When New York scores first, its winning percentage soars. his early fireworks frequently set that foundation.

“Any time you can essentially start off the game with a lead, that’s a huge benefit,” an analyst noted. “It’s a luxury they have because of Judge.”

Boone and the Yankees’ front office have leaned into the strategy, building their lineup to maximize early scoring opportunities. Few players in the league are better equipped to exploit that than Judge.

A legacy of power

In a franchise that boasts names like Ruth, Mantle, and Rodriguez, Judge continues to carve out his own place. None of those legends matched what the current Yankees captain has done in this particular metric. Even A-Rod, who hit 18 first-inning homers in 2001 to set the single-season record, didn’t reach 11 this quickly.

Now with 11 and counting, Judge has a shot to eclipse Rodriguez’s single-season mark (57), if his first-inning dominance continues. Opposing teams will likely adjust, but the Yankees slugger has shown a keen eye and the discipline to make pitchers pay for early mistakes.

His milestone serves as another reminder of his unique blend of size, skill, and discipline. As the season unfolds, the Yankees will count on him to keep delivering, especially with October aspirations in sight.

For now, Judge is once again in the record books — this time for how he starts, not just how he finishes.

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