In a thrilling Tuesday night matchup, the New York Yankees dropped their series opener 5-4 to the visiting Cincinnati Reds. Despite the team's loss, it was a memorable night for Aaron Judge, who delivered an impressive performance at the plate. Judge went 3-for-4, demonstrating why he is one of the league’s most formidable hitters.
The highlight of Judge’s night came with his 32nd home run of the season, a milestone he reached on July 2. This puts him significantly ahead of his pace from last year, when he launched his 32nd homer on July 16. Yankees fans will fondly recall Judge setting the American League record of 62 home runs in 2022—a feat that etched his name in the annals of baseball history.
Aaron Judge's Dominance
Currently, Judge leads the majors in three critical statistical categories: batting average (.321), home runs (32), and RBIs (83). If he maintains this performance, he stands a strong chance of winning the Triple Crown, a rare and prestigious achievement in the sport. Not since Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers accomplished this feat in 2012 has anyone managed to secure the Triple Crown. Prior to Cabrera, the last American League player to win was Carl Yastrzemski of the Boston Red Sox in 1967, while Joe Medwick of the St. Louis Cardinals was the last National League player to achieve it, back in 1937.
Contenders and Comparisons
An aspect that adds to Judge’s remarkable season is his OPS (On-base Plus Slugging) of 1.158, a statistic that further underscores his offensive prowess. Comparatively, Shohei Ohtani, a significant name in the National League, has an OPS over 100 points lower than Judge’s. This showcases the exceptional nature of Judge’s performance this season.
However, it’s worth noting that Cleveland's Steven Kwan currently boasts an impressive batting average of .362. Kwan has not yet achieved qualifying status due to missing over three weeks with a hamstring strain. If Kwan manages to meet the minimum required plate appearances, he could be a substantial competitor in the batting average category.
Looking Ahead
The Yankees and their fans are undoubtedly hoping that Judge continues this extraordinary level of play as the season progresses. His ability to consistently deliver at the plate brings a significant advantage to the team. As he chases the Triple Crown and possibly contends for another home run record, all eyes in the baseball world will be fixed on Aaron Judge.
As of now, the Yankees have to regroup quickly and prepare for the next game in their series against the Reds. With Judge leading by example, they’ll be optimistic about turning the series around and adding more wins to their record.