KANSAS CITY – Aaron Judge’s home runs seem inevitable.
Every time the Yankees slugger steps into the batter’s box, his teammates have said they hope he blows the fence. Judge’s expectations – obviously – are very high, but somehow, in his last 41 games he has looked like a player from another planet.
Judge hit his 25th home run to lead the majors, a hit that Statcast said had a distance of 436 feet and marked another day of at least two hits Tuesday night in the Yankees victory 10-1 over the Royals at Kauffman Stadium. The former American League Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year has added another chapter to his legacy during a 41-game stretch in which he has batted .401, with 21 four-ball hits and 49 RBIs for the Bronx Bombers.
“I’m trying not to take that for granted… but, I mean, it’s really fun to see and witness what he’s doing night in and night out,” pilot Aaron Boone said. “It’s very special.”
Asked before Tuesday’s game if Judge had improved this season, Yankees manager Aaron Boone mentioned how special the slugger’s record-breaking 2022 season was, without being sure he could say so. But what has impressed Boone during Judge’s current hot streak is the fact that the 32-year-old outfielder continues to make adjustments at the plate.
“I think any time you’ve been in this league a long time and you become a veteran player, even the best of the best like Aaron Judge, you have to constantly be making little adjustments and tweaks to the game,” Boone said. “And he does a good job in that regard. I think he continues to get involved as a player, and his experience serves him well.”
That experience has helped propel Judge to a record pace over his last 41 games, which in a full 162-game season would result in 83 home runs, 194 RBIs and 190 runs scored. His two-hit day in four at-bats on Tuesday actually lowered his on-base percentage during this stretch (he entered the game at .520), while Judge became the second member of the Yankees since 2015. (DJ LeMahieu, 2019) who reaches base twice or more in 10 consecutive games.
After missing a game for the first time this season on Monday, Judge quickly reached base for the 36th consecutive game with an RBI single in the first inning. He is also the third player in Major League history to hit more than 30 extra-base hits in a 30-game stretch, joining Joe DiMaggio (1937) and Chick Hafey (1928).
After going 2 for 4 with three RBIs on Tuesday, Judge was tied with Guardians slugger José Ramírez for the Major League lead in RBIs (62) and leads MLB in on-base percentage (.437). ), slugging (.712), OPS (1.149) and walks (55).
“I try not to see too much [los números]”Even when I’m hitting .150, I try not to focus on that,” Judge said. “I just try to have good at-bats. “We are facing some tough teams with pretty good pitching staffs.”
And with Marcus Stroman’s 5.2 scoreless innings, plus Austin Wells and Giancarlo Stanton accompanying Judge with home runs, Judge’s three-RBI day was one of several contributions to put the Yankees (48-21) 27 games ahead. .500 for the first time in 2024. The Yankees, who have the lowest collective ERA in the Majors (2.85), have now allowed three runs or fewer 43 times this season – the most in MLB.
“The way these guys are hitting, it just makes every game more fun,” Stroman noted. “It gives us all more confidence. I feel like each of us is in our element and feeding off each other.”
And with Judge in the midst of a hitting streak that could lead to even more history, there’s only one person left he needs to impress: himself. The slugger is not satisfied with his first 68 games, but he feels that there will come a time when he can finally claim victory in the season.
“Yeah, [si estoy bateando] .330 in November,” Judge exclaimed. “I could feel satisfied.”
