Aaron Judge became the fastest player to join the 300 home-run club on Wednesday night with an eighth-inning longball.
Judge hit home run No 300 in his 955th Major League Baseball game. The previous record belonged to Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner, who did it in 1,087 games.
The New York Yankees star also belted his 300th home run in 3,428 career at-bats, breaking the mark set by fellow Yankee Babe Ruth, who reached the feat nearly 100 years ago in 3,830 at-bats.
Judge’s historic homer came against Chicago White Sox reliever Chad Kuhl, who intentionally walked Juan Soto in the previous at-bat.
Soto has hit four home runs in the last two days, but giving Judge a chance with multiple runners on base does not seem wise in hindsight.
Aaron Judge became the fastest player to hit 300 home runs in Major League Baseball history
Judge reached the mark at an incredible pace, beating out some of the sport’s greats
Two years ago, Aaron Judge hit 62 home runs in the regular season, with Wednesday night’s home run being No 43. Judge is on pace to hit 57 longballs this season.
Judge is again the favorite to win the American League’s Most Valuable Player award after an injury-riddled 2023.
Despite Judge’s incredible pace to reach home run No 300, he turned 32 in April, giving him a limited remaining window in his prime.
Judge will have to continue being among baseball’s leaders for several more seasons to reach baseball’s best all-time home run hitters.
Barry Bonds hit 73 home runs in a season at age 37, while Albert Pujols hit home run No 700 at age 41.
While Judge was being interviewed after the game, chants of ‘MVP!’ range down from Yankees fans at Guaranteed Rate Field.
‘I was hoping it came in a win. We were down early in the game. Not getting much early in the game except that Soto homer,’ Judge said.
Judge was doused with water after the win over the White Sox because of his home run
‘I was mad about the intentional walk. So that kind of fueled it,’ Judge added. ‘… It locks you in.’
Judge should be a lifetime Yankee, meaning baseball’s next career home run chase has a chance to go directly through The Bronx.
Judge is now one of 13 active players to have at least 300 career home runs.
New York teammates Giancarlo Stanton and Anthony Rizzo are above Judge on that list with Rizzo at 303 and Stanton leading all active players with 422 home runs.
Judge becomes the seventh player to have 300 home runs in a Yankee uniform.
The other six: Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, and Alex Rodriguez.
The Yankees defeated the White Sox 10-2.
