Yankees’ slugger Aaron Judge rewrites history, ace Max Fried matches 112-year-old AL dominance.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Aaron Judge claimed a rare spot in baseball lore on Saturday. He became the first player ever with 40 multi-homer games within his first 1,200 career appearances. The milestone came in an 11–7 loss to the Oakland Athletics at Sutter Health Park.
Judge launched solo shots in both the fourth and sixth innings. The first came off former Yankee JP Sears. It carried an estimated 106 mph off the bat and cleared the right-center field fence. The second blast traveled 433 feet to dead center. Both homers marked his 13th and 14th long balls of the season.
Those two blasts also gave Judge a total of 41 career multi-homer games. He now leads all major leaguers in that category. No other slugger matched 40 multi-HR contests so early in a career.
“Aaron Judge now has 41 career multi-HR games, two more than any other player in his first 1,200 games,” tweeted MLB statistician Sarah Langs. Her analysis placed Judge well ahead of his peers at the same stage.
Within New York Yankees history, Judge ranks fourth all-time in multi-homer contests. He trails only Babe Ruth (68), Mickey Mantle (46), and Lou Gehrig (43). His climb up that list cements his place among the Bronx Bombers’ greatest sluggers.
Judge’s impact this season goes beyond multi-homer games. He leads the majors with a .396 batting average. He also tops all hitters in on-base percentage (.486), slugging percentage (.772), hits (59) and RBIs (37). His blend of power and plate discipline has fueled New York’s potent offense.
Saturday marked Judge’s first game in Sacramento since his Fresno State days. He grew up near the ballpark and counted many family members among the 12,113 fans in attendance. The crowd showered him with “MVP! MVP!” chants after each long ball.
Judge’s surge has forced pitchers to adjust. They nibble at the corners or elevate fastballs early in counts. Yet he continues to punish mistakes. His green-light approach makes him a constant threat.
At 32, Judge keeps rewriting record books. His consistency and power have defined an MVP-caliber career. He remains one of baseball’s modern icons and the centerpiece of the Yankees’ lineup.
Yankees’ Max Fried equals 1913 AL record
Left-hander Max Fried etched his name into baseball history on Wednesday. He became the first Yankees starter since 1913 to open a season 6–0 with an ERA of 1.01 or lower through his first seven starts.
In a 4–1 victory in New York, Fried spun seven innings of one-run ball. He allowed five hits and struck out eight. He improved to 6–0 on the season with a 1.01 ERA.
Over 47 innings, Fried has surrendered just five earned runs. He has fanned 43 batters in those outings. His dominance has given the Yankees a reliable ace amid rotation injuries.
Fried’s run dates back to April 4 at Pittsburgh, when he yielded one earned run in 5.2 innings with six strikeouts. He posted a shutout of Detroit on April 8 (7 IP, 11 K) and blanked Tampa Bay on April 19 (7.2 IP, two hits). On April 26, he held Toronto to one run in six frames. His only multi-run outing came April 15 against Kansas City, when he allowed two earned runs over 6.2 innings.
Only two pitchers have begun a season at that level. Fernando Valenzuela and Dave Ferriss share the mark since 1913. Both went on to earn All-Star honors that year. Now Fried joins their exclusive company.
“He looks like he’s 15 years old, but man, there is a lot of dynamite in this skinny package right here,” MLB Network analyst Dan Plesac said. “The fastball plays. He can hit that outside corner with angry heat. His curveball is electric. And that sweeper adds a third weapon. It’s a complete arsenal.”
At 32, Fried has developed into the Yankees’ de facto ace. The two-time All-Star was the Braves’ seventh overall pick in 2012. He signed with New York in free agency this winter. He’s widely regarded as an early Cy Young contender and a key piece in the Yankees’ push for an American League East crown.
For Bronx fans, Fried’s dominance has been a welcome spark. New York’s rotation has battled injuries and inconsistency. His ability to eat innings and stifle lineups has given the bullpen much-needed rest.
The Yankees will send Fried to the hill again on May 17 at Yankee Stadium. He’ll aim to extend his winning streak and keep that century-old record intact.
As Judge scales new heights and Fried flirts with history, the New York Yankees boast one of baseball’s most potent duos this season. Their combined feats underscore the Bronx Bombers’ hopes for another run to October.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
