There is being red-hot at the plate and there is what Aaron Judge is doing right now.
The New York Yankees’ slugger is amidst the most torrid stretch in baseball, hitting his 25th home run of the season on Tuesday night in Kansas City to extend his lead atop the MLB leaderboard.
Over his last 35 games dating back to May 3, Judge is batting .422 with 19 home runs, 44 RBI, and a remarkable 1.572 OPS. His season average has taken a dramatic leap because of it, catapulting from a worrisome .197 to .309.
To put his power output in perspective during this stretch, 19 home runs and 44 RBI in 35 games is a 162-game pace of 88 home runs and 204 RBI. That is otherworldly production that even his manager cannot help but sit back and enjoy.
“It’s a lot of fun to witness and to watch what he’s doing on a nightly basis,” Yankees skipper Aaron Boone said. “He’s just, obviously an amazing physical talent and tools and ability, but now the experience that thousands of at-bats allow you to have that gets applied with that great talent and this is what you’re seeing.”
In what has felt like an instant, Judge has gone from a disappointing start to his season to suddenly eyeing the record books once again — specifically his American League record of 62 home runs set during his MVP-winning campaign two years ago.
Expecting an 88-home-run pace for the remainder of the season is unfair, obviously, but the law of averages he has exhibited throughout 2024 is creating another round-tripper-record pursuit. Judge has appeared in 68 of the Yankees’ first 69 games of the season, which puts him at a 159-game pace should he stay healthy.
At his current rate (25 homers in 68 games), Judge is on pace to finish the season with 58 home runs, which would land him four dingers short of tying his mark. Of course, that figure changes if this hot streak continues at its current rate.
“It’s still early in the season,” Judge told reporters (via YES Network). “I’m just trying to put together good at-bats. We’re facing some tough teams and some great pitching staffs.”
