Before Tuesday’s games, the New York Yankees led the majors in home runs (52) and isolated power (.180).
They have been a powerful offense, geared to hit home runs in bunches.
They have two premier power hitters in Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, though, and both are capable of hitting the ball harder and further than most mortals.
MLB wondered if they can each hit 50 homers in 2022.
“Only one pair of teammates have ever hit 50 HR each in the same season. Can Judge and Stanton join them?,” they tweeted.
Only one pair of teammates have ever hit 50 HR each in the same season. Can Judge and Stanton join them? pic.twitter.com/BDhmakJhsh
— MLB (@MLB) May 16, 2022
The teammates they are referring to are Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris on the 1961 Yankees.
The two men were hunting Babe Ruth‘s single-season record of 60 blasts.
Mantle had to deal with a hip problem down the stretch and couldn’t take the field: he hit 54.
Maris, on the other hand, broke the record and hit 61.
But back to the present day.
Judge And Stanton Are Two Of The Strongest Men In Baseball
Judge and Stanton have proven they are capable of hitting 50 dingers in a single year: Stanton had 59 in 2017, and Judge knocked 52 in his rookie season, in the same year.
But Stanton was with the Miami Marlins back then: can they do it this time, while being members of the same squad?
It sounds difficult, especially considering the ball seems to be “de-juiced” (at least until a few days ago), but they are perhaps the two strongest men in baseball.
They can do it.
At the moment, Judge leads MLB with 12 round-trippers, and Stanton is third with 10.
There is still a long way to go, but both are on a solid pace.
If they stay healthy, they have, at the very least, a shot.
NEXT: Yankees Sluggers Make History Amid Powerful Start