BOSTON — Jazz Chisholm Jr. can hardly contain his excitement when he watches New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge crush a baseball. During a recent game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, Chisholm was quick to glance at the scoreboard after Judge launched a 468-foot home run off a fastball thrown by Red Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito. This stunning blast not only set the tone for the Yankees’ 4-1 victory, but it also marked Judge’s 47th home run of the season.
The pitch, clocked at 92.5 mph, was sent soaring at an impressive exit velocity of 112.6 mph, leaving Chisholm and many others in awe. “As a fan of baseball, it’s incredible to see the best player in the league perform day in and day out,” Chisholm remarked. He praised Judge as a unique talent, stating that teammates often discuss his remarkable abilities. “I could not be happier to play alongside him.”
Judge’s first-inning home run also held significance in Yankees history. It marked the 362nd home run of his career, surpassing Joe DiMaggio to become the franchise’s fourth all-time home run leader. Additionally, his latest home run set a new record for the most home runs in the first inning of a single season, pushing past the previous mark of 19 he established in 2024 and one set by Alex Rodriguez in 2001.
In terms of overall home run rankings, only Babe Ruth (659), Mickey Mantle (536), and Lou Gehrig (493) have hit more homers in a Yankees uniform. If Judge maintains his current pace of 52 home runs per 162 games over the next few seasons, he could surpass Lou Gehrig’s record in approximately 2.5 seasons. Given his current age of 33, catching Ruth may be a taller task, but Judge is widely regarded as one of the most powerful hitters of his era.
Furthermore, Judge recently overtook Bryce Harper for the 89th position in Major League Baseball history for home runs, accomplishing this feat with nearly 3,000 fewer plate appearances. With 363 home runs ahead of him is Freddie Freeman of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who has more than 4,000 additional plate appearances.
Judge is not only setting franchise records but is also making his mark in the league overall. He was the fastest player in MLB history to reach the 300 and 350 home run milestones. Mark McGwire holds the record for the quickest to reach 400 home runs, achieving it in 1,412 games, while Judge stands poised to break that figure next season at his current game rate.
Teammate Ben Rice expressed the importance of recognizing Judge’s accomplishments amid daily expectations. “Sometimes you take for granted what he’s achieving, but these milestones allow you to appreciate his greatness,” Rice said.
With only 15 games remaining, the Yankees are focused on securing wins, especially with the Toronto Blue Jays leading the American League East by three games. According to FanGraphs, the Yankees currently have a 16.5 percent chance of claiming the division title. Winning the series against the Red Sox this weekend is critical for determining potential home-field advantage in the AL Wild Card Series.
Following Friday’s game, the Yankees sit 1.5 games ahead of the Red Sox for the top Wild Card position. Despite his impressive stats, Judge remains humble, downplaying his personal achievements when questioned about passing DiMaggio. “All those guys before me played to win, and that’s what I’m here to do,” Judge stated. “If I can help this team by hitting homers, that’s a bonus.”
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