Yankees' Aaron Judge matches all-time franchise record with 34th home run
Neither Aaron Judge nor Cal Raleigh have the luxury of worrying about the American League MVP race right now, as their respective ballclubs try to strengthen their status in the playoff picture. However, if these two star sluggers manage to make history while also helping their teams, then they will gladly rake in the milestones. Both players left their mark on the scoreboard in Tuesday's game between the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners, but only Judge got to celebrate a 10-3 win.
Advertisement
The future Hall of Famer further entrenched himself in pinstripes lore, hitting a solo home run in the seventh inning to stretch his squad's lead to 7-0. He hit four dingers in the last week, but this latest one vaults him into rarefied air. What is even more astounding, however, is that he was already the only one breathing said air.
Judge's 34 homers are tied for the most ever hit by a Yankees player before the All-Star break, per New York Yankees Stats, matching the record he set just last year. The California native also has the next highest total, which he compiled en route to breaking Roger Maris' longstanding AL homer record in 2022.
Judge's unmatched offensive excellence has allowed him to win two MVPs and become one of the greatest of his generation. He continues to raise the bar while representing the most accomplished franchise the baseball world has ever known, a feat that is extremely difficult to grasp when recalling all the legends who have shined in The Bronx. But Aaron Judge will not ascend into unquestioned Yankees immortality until he helps the team win a World Series championship.
Will Aaron Judge obtain October redemption and lead Yankees back to the top?
A ring is the bare minimum that fans expect from anyone who is a top guy of this franchise. Fair or not, that is the standard Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra and Derek Jeter have set. Although this sport relies heavily on a collective effort, the captain is supposed to produce on the big stage. Judge has a .205 batting average and a middling .752 OPS in 58 playoff games. He can flip the narrative in 2025, however.
Advertisement
The 33-year-old belted 62 home runs in 2022 and posted a 1.159 OPS last season, but he is in the midst of what could be his masterpiece. Judge paces MLB with a .360 batting average, .467 on-base percentage, .738 slugging percentage and 1.205 OPS. He is tied for the AL's RBI lead with Cal Raleigh and trails the Mariners catcher by only two in the long ball department. The Triple Crown chase is alive and well.
Considering that No. 99 has somehow leveled up, perhaps he will also boost his October reputation. Doing so would give Aaron Judge the chance to enjoy the greatest season of all-time. But he cannot do it alone.
Fresh off their Tuesday night barrage, the Yankees will attempt to win three in a row for the first time since June 12.
Related: Fan proposes behind home plate during Yankees-Mariners game
Advertisement
Related: Yankees' Austin Wells keeps hot streak alive with bomb vs. Mariners
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Max Eisenbud Upped to Head of Client Representation at WME Sports
Max Eisenbud has been promoted to head of client representation for WME Sports, overseeing the Hollywood talent agency's business across tennis, golf, action sports and sports content. The longtime tennis agent was most recently head of clients for the agency's IMG Tennis division, which he will continue to lead. IMG Tennis clients include Grand Slam champions Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek, as well as Serena Williams, John McEnroe, Andy Murray, Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe. More from The Hollywood Reporter Patrick Whitesell Starts Joint Venture With Universal Music Group AI-Powered Animation Studio Toonstar Signs With WME (Exclusive) WME Promotes Rich Gambale to Partner in Unscripted TV (Exclusive) WME Group co-chairman Christian Muirhead said in a statement: 'There are few individuals like Max Eisenbud, an agent and a leader who is passionate, creative, and one of the hardest working people in our business. Over the past 25 years he has developed some of the world's top tennis players and transformed IMG Tennis into the undisputed leader. Max is a natural fit to lead WME Sports into the future where we will continue to invest and grow under Max's leadership.' Having joined IMG in 2000, Eisenbud went on to represent champions Maria Sharapova and Li Na as they built up commercial ventures away from the tennis court. Eisenbud's team at WME Sports will include Lee White in sports content, Josh Levy on the broadcast group front, and Mike Zavodsky in the property solutions business. WME Sports represents athletes, broadcasters, executives and institutions driving the sports industry worldwide by negotiating contracts, major brand deals and launching media ventures. The new role for Eisenbud follows WME parent Endeavor going private once more as part of a $25 billion deal by Silver Lake, and the the newly-private businesses going by the name of WME Group. WME Group includes the WME agency, marketing firm 160over90, IMG licensing, and the unscripted studio Pantheon Media Group (formerly named Asylum Entertainment). Best of The Hollywood Reporter How the Warner Brothers Got Their Film Business Started Meet the World Builders: Hollywood's Top Physical Production Executives of 2023 Men in Blazers, Hollywood's Favorite Soccer Podcast, Aims for a Global Empire
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Davante Adams-Puka Nacua combo is already reaping benefits for the Rams
As Davante Adams began his first Rams training camp, star receiver Puka Nacua tried to be cool, calm and collected. Nacua, a third-year pro, was eager to put aside his seniority with the Rams. The ascending star wanted to step back and allow Adams — a three-time All-Pro — to lead the way and go first in receiver drills. But when he approached Adams, Nacua's nerves apparently shone through. 'He was saying it almost like he'd been wanting to say it for a long time,' said Adams, who signed with the Rams in March, 'but he didn't really know how to say that.' The situation demanded it, Nacua said. 'There is a respect for him to come in saying, 'I don't want to push you out of the way or take your spot and be like, Oh, I should be up there No. 1,'' Nacua said. 'But it's something that I have a huge amount of respect for his game.' The request also came with a not-so-hidden bonus. 'When I was in the front, I'm trying to sprint as fast as I can so I can turn around and watch him,' Nacua said, laughing. 'So, I was like, 'Hey, I think it'll make my job a little bit easier if you just go first.' ... There's nothing better than seeing him with my own two eyes.' Adams, 32, has been wowing teammates, coaches and fans with skills honed during 11 NFL seasons. The 6-foot 1, 215-pound Adams has amassed 1,000 yards receiving in a season seven times, including the last six in a row. The Rams pursued Adams to replace Cooper Kupp, who was released three days after they agreed to terms with Adams. The two-year deal includes $25 million in guarantees, according to Adams, who has played for the Green Bay Packers, Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets, said during offseason workouts that he felt rejuvenated with the Rams and their 'college-type camaraderie.' He has enjoyed the way coach Sean McVay — 'the mastermind,' Adams said — has conducted camp. 'Well, the 'masterminds' because it's a lot of people involved,' Adams said, 'but it's just been fun. 'The best part for me is just getting to know the guys and hanging out with them every day.' It did not take long for Adams to make an impression with his new teammates. In April, on the first day of offseason workouts, receivers coach Eric Yarber stood before his assembled charges and gave them an impassioned speech. 'I want to get this out of the way,' Yarber began. 'All you guys who were here last year, you learned from Cooper Kupp, one of the best slots ever. 'And now you're about to learn from a future Hall of Famer. You better pick his brain as much as you can while he's here because I'm going to do the same thing.' Adams thanked Yarber for the welcome, and then delivered a message. 'He said, 'You guys are going to learn a lot from me, but don't think that I can't learn anything from ya'll,'' second-year receiver Jordan Whittington said. 'He made that very clear.' Adams is part of a receiver corps that includes Nacua, Whittington, veteran Tutu Atwell — who signed a one-year $10-million contract — Xavier Smith and rookie Konata Mumpfield. Veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford has yet to practice during training because of a back issue. But Stafford said in Maui at the end of offseason workouts that Adams was a 'seamless fit' for the offense. With Stafford sidelined, Adams has worked mainly with veteran backup Jimmy Garoppolo. The two were teammates with the Raiders in 2023. 'He brought over the same swagger he had in Las Vegas, man,' Garoppolo said 'He's a confident dude.' Read more: 'Call the police.' Jared Verse left inspired by his Aaron Donald workout trauma Yarber is in his ninth season on McVay's staff. During his tenure, he coached Kupp, Nacua, Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods and DeSean Jackson, among others. Adams brings experience and a one-of-a-kind skill set. 'He's a bigger receiver that has the feet of a little man,' Yarber said. 'I mean, he's cat-quick, he's got great change of direction, great catch radius and a great feel for the game.' What separates Adams from other receivers is his ability to separate from defensive backs and create space. At the line of scrimmage and while running routes against complex coverages. 'Separation is a big thing that I wanted to work on, and now I've got one of the ultimate separators ever,' Whittington said. 'So having him in the film room sharing that type of information and then just watching him go out there and dominate, it's truly a blessing.' Nacua feels the same. Adams said he dispenses advice to Nacua when appropriate. 'I'm not a walking wise man where I'm just trying to drop little trinkets on him all day, but it's more whenever it comes up,' Adams said of dissecting double-coverage and other schemes. 'That part is actually like some of the most enjoyable parts of this thing for me, the cerebral game.' Adams' influence on Nacua has been obvious to McVay. During a team meeting, the ninth-year coach complimented Nacua on a play, and then asked what he was thinking while running his route. Nacua referenced Adams and a tip he had offered. 'When you have guys that are doing that for each other, that's special stuff,' McVay said, adding, 'when you have teammates that are pushing one another, when there's that mutual respect that exists and that appropriate humility, a lot of good things can follow.' The Rams hope so. If Stafford is physically sound, a passing attack featuring Adams and Nacua could help make the Rams a Super Bowl contender. Adams acknowledged that while all that glitters is not gold, the Rams' foundation under McVay and their personnel and mindset give them an opportunity to be a championship-caliber team. 'This is looking pretty golden over here,' he said. Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Jets put RB Zach Evans on reserve/retired list
Running back Zach Evans has ended his bid to make the Jets this summer. The Jets announced that they have placed Evans on the reserve/retired list. They will retain his rights, but he will no longer count against the team's 90-man roster limit. Evans ran nine times for 19 yards in 10 games for the Rams in 2023. He spent last season on the Jets' practice squad. Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, and Isaiah Davis are the top three backs on the team's depth chart. Kene Nwangwu and undrafted rookie Donovan Edwards are also on the roster at the moment.
