The New York Yankees are currently mired in a slump, having dropped nine of their last 12 games and four consecutive series, including two straight to their crosstown rivals, the Mets.
However, in the midst of this struggles, Aaron Judge continues to shine brightly, belting his 30th home run of the season in Wednesday’s 12-2 loss to the Mets.
Judge’s impressive blast, his 287th career home run, tied him with Bernie Williams for seventh most in franchise history, solidifying his position as one of the greatest sluggers in Yankees history.
His remarkable achievement also placed him in elite company, as he joined Mark McGwire and Ken Griffey Jr. as the only players in MLB history to reach 30 home runs before the All-Star break three times.
Since May 1, Judge has been on an absolute tear, batting a scorching .379 with a 1.412 OPS, 24 home runs, and 17 doubles in 49 games.
His season stats are equally impressive, with a .309/.433/.712 batting line and 60 walks in 80 games. Manager Aaron Boone has run out of superlatives to describe Judge’s performance, saying, “It’s remarkable…just more great at-bats tonight by him.”
Despite the Yankees’ struggles, Judge remains focused on the task at hand, saying, “We got a season ahead of us, a lot of ballgames ahead of us.”
His leadership and offensive prowess have been the only bright spots in an otherwise dismal stretch for the team. As the Yankees look to snap out of their funk, they will rely heavily on Judge’s continued production to get them back on track.