In a thrilling Tuesday night matchup, the New York Yankees found themselves on the losing end of a tightly contested game, dropping their series opener 5-4 to the visiting Cincinnati Reds. Despite the loss, the night was notable for the standout performance of Aaron Judge, who continued to cement his place as one of baseball’s elite.
Judge turned in a memorable performance, going 3-for-4 at the plate and further solidifying his candidacy for the Triple Crown. His offensive surge included launching his 32nd home run of the season. Interestingly, Judge has a knack for hitting milestone homers around the same time each year; his 32nd home run of last season came on July 16, highlighting his consistent power.
As of Tuesday night, Judge leads the majors in three critical offensive categories: batting average (.321), home runs (32), and RBIs (83). These stats put him at the forefront of Triple Crown discussions, given that the achievement hasn’t been seen since Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers accomplished it in 2012. Before Cabrera, the last American League player to earn the Triple Crown was Carl Yastrzemski of the Boston Red Sox in 1967. In the National League, Joe Medwick of the St. Louis Cardinals was the last to do so, achieving the feat in 1937.
The potential for Judge to join this exclusive club of Triple Crown winners speaks volumes about his season. He also leads the majors with an OPS of 1.158, a remarkable figure that underscores his all-around offensive dominance. For perspective, Shohei Ohtani, another superstar performing at a high level, has an OPS in the NL that is over 100 points lower than Judge’s, showcasing Judge's supremacy at the plate this season.
Adding another layer to Judge’s impressive stats is the fact that he set the American League record with 62 home runs in the 2022 season. Repeating or surpassing such monumental achievements would only add to his already illustrious profile in Major League Baseball.
However, it’s worth noting that while Judge’s numbers are staggering, baseball remains a team sport. The Yankees will need to rally around their star player to turn these individual milestones into collective success. This is particularly pertinent as the Yankees strive to maintain their position in a highly competitive league.
Outside of Judge’s performance, another player making waves in the batting average department is Steven Kwan, who boasts a .362 average. Unfortunately, Kwan hasn't yet achieved qualifying status due to missing more than three weeks with a hamstring strain. Nevertheless, his presence and future at-bats will be something to keep an eye on as the season progresses.
For the Yankees, the focus now shifts to bouncing back from this narrow defeat and taking advantage of their opportunities in the upcoming games. The support from Judge, who continues to deliver MVP-level performances, will be crucial for the Yankees as they navigate the highs and lows of a long MLB season.
The Yankees’ loyal fanbase will undoubtedly be watching closely, hopeful that Judge’s heroics will translate into a successful playoff push later this year. With players like Judge leading the charge, the team’s future looks promising.