Yankees’ Aaron Judge Becomes Fastest Player to Reach 300 Home Runs

CHICAGO — Aaron Judge continues to impress in what has been an MVP-worthy season, having reached another significant milestone in his career. For the first time in a notable moment, a team decided to intentionally walk Juan Soto to face Judge with an open first base.

On Wednesday evening at Guaranteed Rate Field, the Yankees’ captain hit his 300th career home run off Chicago White Sox right-hander Chad Kuhl. The three-run homer, which came in the eighth inning, marked Judge’s 43rd home run of the season, leading all of Major League Baseball.

This achievement also established Judge as the fastest player to reach 300 career home runs, according to statistics from Elias Sports Bureau. The previous record was held by Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner, who accomplished the feat in 1,087 games. Judge reached the milestone in just 955 games.

Following the Yankees’ 10-2 victory, the milestone baseball, which had landed in the White Sox’s bullpen, was retrieved and presented to Judge.

“All I know is, what Aaron is doing is pretty special,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone stated earlier this week.

In a spectacular display of power, Juan Soto had hit three home runs in the Yankees’ 4-1 win over the White Sox the night before and launched another solo shot in the first inning on Wednesday. This remarkable performance gave Soto four home runs in his last four official at-bats, in addition to a walk.

By the time Judge stepped up to the plate, the Yankees were leading 6-2 after an RBI double from Alex Verdugo. White Sox interim manager Grady Sizemore made the decision to intentionally walk Soto, setting up the moment for Judge, who responded by making baseball history.

Soto, in praise of his teammate, called him “the greatest hitter in the world” on Tuesday. He continued, “Look at his numbers; he’s just unbelievable. He makes my job easier. He makes my plate appearances a little bit better. When you’re hitting in front of a guy like that, you know you’re getting pitches. He’s the greatest one.”

After Judge hit his 299th home run on Sunday in the Bronx, Boone reflected on Judge’s prowess as a hitter, admitting that he sometimes takes it for granted. “I try to remind myself every now and then what I’m getting to watch over there, with what he’s able to do,” Boone noted. “And just the player and the hitter he’s become. It’s remarkable.”

Judge is now the seventh player in the rich history of the New York Yankees to hit 300 home runs, joining legends such as Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, and Alex Rodriguez. Rodriguez holds the franchise record for home runs with 351, while Ruth leads all Yankees with 659 home runs.

At 32 years old, Judge also holds the franchise and American League record for the most home runs in a single season, having smashed 62 in 2022. Although he is slightly trailing that pace this season, Judge faces the challenge of increased intentional walks as he aims to surpass his own remarkable achievement.

Source: NorthJersey.com