Aaron Judge Blasts Historic 50th Home Run, Chasing American League Record

The New York Yankees' slugger continues to dominate the league, solidifying his position as the frontrunner in the AL home run race.

Aaron Judge, the towering slugger of the New York Yankees, has once again etched his name into baseball history. With a powerful swing in the bottom of the first inning against the Colorado Rockies, Judge launched his 50th home run of the season, becoming the first player in MLB to reach the milestone this year.

This latest achievement follows Judge's record-breaking season in 2022, where he surpassed Roger Maris' single-season home run record for the Yankees, hitting 62 home runs. Now, Judge is on pace to repeat that feat, having hit 31 homers in his last 31 games.

Aaron Judge Blasts Historic 50th Home Run, Chasing American League Record

With 31 games remaining in the regular season, Judge is projected to finish with 62 home runs, matching his historic 2022 season. Currently, Shohei Ohtani, the reigning AL MVP and current NL MVP frontrunner, is the only player within striking distance of Judge, with 41 home runs to his name.

Judge's dominance extends beyond the home run totals. He has also become the first player in MLB history to hit 50 or more home runs in three of his first nine seasons. Additionally, his 18 first-inning home runs in 2023 tie him with former Yankee Alex Rodriguez for the most in a single season.

Aaron Judge Blasts Historic 50th Home Run, Chasing American League Record

The Yankees' faithful and baseball fans across the nation have been captivated by Judge's remarkable performance, which has drawn comparisons to the legendary Barry Bonds. Bonds holds the all-time MLB home run record with 762, and his intentional walks became a strategy teams employed to minimize his damage. Judge has faced similar tactics, with opponents opting to walk him intentionally rather than risk his power.

Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz, a renowned power hitter himself, recently praised Judge's abilities. "Man, that guy's a beast," Ortiz told Fox News Digital. "He's at another level body-wise. He's just special."

Aaron Judge Blasts Historic 50th Home Run, Chasing American League Record

Judge's pursuit of his own home run record and potentially surpassing it keeps the baseball world on the edge of their seats. With a month left in the regular season, anything seems possible for the dynamic slugger. The Yankees and their fans will undoubtedly ride the wave of Judge's historic run, hoping to witness another chapter in the storied history of the New York Yankees.