In an electrifying Tuesday evening showdown, the New York Yankees fell just short in their series opener against the Cincinnati Reds, losing 5-4. However, the real story of the night was Aaron Judge, who delivered a standout performance at Yankee Stadium.
Judge was locked in from the get-go, going 3-for-4 at the plate. The highlight of his night came when he blasted his 32nd home run of the season, further solidifying his place as one of baseball's premier sluggers. This latest homer positions Judge impressively, as he hit his 32nd home run of last season on July 16—two weeks later than this year's mark.
Last season was nothing short of historic for Judge, with his 62 home runs setting a new American League record. This year, Judge is leading the majors in several key categories, boasting a batting average of .321, an impressive 32 home runs, and 83 RBIs. His performance has fueled discussions about a potential Triple Crown, an achievement last seen in 2012 by Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers. If Judge were to clinch the Triple Crown, he would be in the company of legends like Carl Yastrzemski of the Boston Red Sox, who won it in 1967, and Joe Medwick of the St. Louis Cardinals, the last National League player to do so in 1937.
In addition to his power numbers, Judge’s On-base Plus Slugging (OPS) stands at a staggering 1.158. To put this into perspective, Shohei Ohtani, one of Judge's closest competitors, has an OPS in the National League that is over 100 points lower. This underscores the exceptional nature of Judge's overall performance this season.
The batting race has been another point of interest, with Steven Kwan posting an impressive .362 average. However, Kwan has not yet achieved qualifying status due to missing more than three weeks with a hamstring strain. This detail casts a shadow over Kwan’s otherwise stellar performance and leaves Judge's .321 average in a comparatively favorable light.
Despite Judge’s spectacular showing, the Yankees were unable to pull off a win. The Reds managed to secure the victory by a slim margin, highlighting the competitive nature of this season. Yet, for Yankees fans and baseball enthusiasts, Judge's exploits offer a beacon of hope and excitement as the season progresses.
As the summer heats up, all eyes are on Judge to see if he can maintain this incredible pace and potentially secure a place in the annals of baseball history. His consistency and ability to deliver in clutch moments underscore why he is regarded as one of the premier athletes in the sport today. As it stands, Aaron Judge is not just chasing records; he is sculpting a legacy.