Everybody, from fans to executives, players, managers, coaches, and media, is talking about New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, and deservedly so.
He hit his 29th home run on Wednesday afternoon against the Oakland Athletics, so he has a realistic shot at getting to 30 before the end of the month.
But a fellow Yankees slugger has been mighty impressive, too.
Giancarlo Stanton also hit a long ball today, a three-run blast to turn the score around for the Yankees in an unexpectedly tough game.
Judge’s blast had tied MLB’s team record for the month of June at 56, established by the 2016 Baltimore Orioles and 2019 Atlanta Braves.
Stanton’s blast, however, got the Yankees on top for good.
“Giancarlo Stanton gives them the record. 57 June HRs for the #Yankees,” Bryan Hoch of MLB.com tweeted.
Giancarlo Stanton gives them the record. 57 June HRs for the #Yankees. https://t.co/gKWLXkE2S5
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) June 29, 2022
Judge Has Been Brilliant, But Stanton Isn’t Far Behind For The 2022 Yankees
Batting average hasn’t been a particularly strong suit, but Stanton is having a strong season in his own right.
After his home run on Wednesday (and with some innings left to play), he is slashing .245/.332/.527 with 19 round-trippers and 52 RBI.
Sure, Stanton strikes out a lot, but he remains an incredibly productive outfielder and an excellent complement to Judge and the rest of the Yankees lineup.
He also takes lots of walks and is capable of playing good defense in right field, although he sees most of his playing time from the designated hitter spot.
As long as Stanton and Judge are both healthy, the Yankees lineup will remain a powerhouse.
They are the two batters who hit the ball the hardest in baseball, and when they connect at 110+ mph, good things usually happen.
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