It doesn’t take much following of the MLB universe to know that New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is having the best season of his career.
Not only does Judge comfortably lead MLB in home runs with 17, but he is also slashing a career-best .325/.398/.715 with 3.0 Wins Above Replacement (WAR), more than Mike Trout.
At this rate, he is going to come awfully close to his personal best of 52 home runs, set in 2017.
He is hitting homers at a record pace, and has a knack for knocking two balls out of the park in the same game.
He is now joining a certain Yankee great with his run of multi-homer games.
“Only two players in #Yankees franchise history have recorded at least four multi-HR games in New York’s first 42 games of a season. – Aaron Judge, 2022 – Babe Ruth, 1928,” SI.com’s Max Goodman tweeted.
Only two players in #Yankees franchise history have recorded at least four multi-HR games in New York's first 42 games of a season.
– Aaron Judge, 2022
– Babe Ruth, 1928— Max Goodman (@MaxTGoodman) May 24, 2022
Judge Is Replicating Some Of Ruth’s Numbers
Babe Ruth dominated baseball in the 20s and 30s: Judge is doing it, almost 100 years after perhaps the greatest baseball player in history.
Of course, Judge still has a long way to go to finish with Ruth’s 1928 numbers.
That year, the Babe hit .323/.463/.709 with 54 home runs, 163 runs, and 142 RBI.
Judge will probably fall short in the OBP, runs, and RBI; but so far, he is replicating the average and the slugging percentage.
He is having a truly amazing year, motivated by the fact that he is seeking a juicy contract at the end of the season, when he reaches free agency.
He is well on his way to become baseball’s next $300 million man, even if he is a bit old (30) for that contract’s standards.
If the Yankees don’t pay him, someone definitely will.
NEXT: Josh Donaldson Will Remain Out With Or Without A Suspension