In an electrifying Tuesday night encounter, the New York Yankees narrowly missed victory, falling 5-4 to the Cincinnati Reds in their series opener. The game was marked by standout performances, notably from Aaron Judge, who continued to burnish his extraordinary season.
Judge was nearly unstoppable at the plate, going 3-for-4 and showcasing his prodigious power by smashing his 32nd home run of the season. This feat is particularly noteworthy as Judge seems to be on a trajectory reminiscent of his record-setting 2022 campaign, where he set the American League record with 62 home runs. His 32nd homer this season came on July 2, echoing a similar milestone from the previous year on July 16.
The Yankees' star outfielder has been a beacon of consistency and excellence, and his current stats underscore his dominance in the majors. Judge leads in batting average (.321), home runs (32), and RBIs (83), putting him in a strong position for a historic Triple Crown achievement. Such a feat hasn't been accomplished in over a decade since Miguel Cabrera's remarkable 2012 season with the Detroit Tigers, and before Cabrera, the Boston Red Sox's Carl Yastrzemski achieved it in 1967. Even longer ago, Joe Medwick of the St. Louis Cardinals was the last National League player to earn the Triple Crown, doing so in 1937.
Judge’s impressive season isn't just about power. His overall offensive performance is highlighted by an OPS of 1.158, a testament to his capability to not only hit for power but also get on base at an exceptional rate. In comparison, Shohei Ohtani, a standout in the National League, trails Judge's OPS by over 100 points, illustrating the significant gap in their offensive outputs.
The only player with a higher batting average than Judge in the current season is Steven Kwan, sporting a .362 average. However, Kwan hasn’t yet qualified for this status due to missing over three weeks with a hamstring strain, meaning Judge’s position remains unthreatened for now.
As the Yankees navigate the rest of their season, the spotlight will undoubtedly continue to shine on Judge. His performance not only fuels the Yankees' playoff aspirations but also solidifies his standing as one of the game's most formidable talents. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely, anticipating whether Judge can sustain this level of excellence and perhaps achieve the elusive Triple Crown.