In a thrilling Tuesday night matchup, the New York Yankees fell short in their series opener, losing 5-4 to the visiting Cincinnati Reds. The highlight of the night, however, was Aaron Judge's remarkable performance at the plate.
Judge, who has been a cornerstone for the Yankees, had an exceptional night, going 3-for-4 and hitting his 32nd home run of the season. This home run not only added to his impressive tally but also marked a noteworthy coincidence. Judge hit his 32nd home run of the season on July 2, and he achieved the same milestone last season on July 16. Such consistency underscores his prowess as one of the game's premier sluggers.
Judge's ability to consistently deliver stellar performances has placed him at the forefront of several key statistical categories this year. As of Tuesday night, Judge leads the majors with a .321 batting average, 32 home runs, and 83 RBIs. These numbers are not just impressive; they mark him as a potential candidate for the Triple Crown, a rare and prestigious achievement in baseball.
The Triple Crown, which involves leading the league in batting average, home runs, and RBIs, hasn't been accomplished since Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers achieved the feat in 2012. Before Cabrera, Carl Yastrzemski of the Boston Red Sox won the Triple Crown in 1967, and Joe Medwick of the St. Louis Cardinals was the last National League player to do so in 1937. Judge's current stats hold the promise of potentially joining this elite group, making his performance this season even more significant.
Adding to his impressive credentials, Judge boasts an OPS of 1.158, a figure that underscores his overall offensive dominance. In comparison, the next closest competitor, Shohei Ohtani, has an OPS in the National League that is over 100 points lower than Judge's. This gap further highlights the exceptional nature of Judge's offensive capabilities this season.
While other players have made significant impacts this year, with Steven Kwan's .362 batting average being a notable example, Kwan hasn't yet achieved qualifying status due to missing over three weeks with a hamstring strain. This leaves Judge as the leader in several major categories, further solidifying his standout status this season.
The Yankees' loss to the Reds may have been a setback, but Judge's performance offered a silver lining. His home run on Tuesday night brought back memories of last season when he set the American League record with 62 home runs. While repeating such a monumental achievement is a tough ask, Judge's current pace makes it clear that he is once again on track for a phenomenal season.
As the season progresses, all eyes will remain on Judge as he continues to chase not only individual milestones but also the illustrious Triple Crown. The Yankees may have dropped their series opener, but with Judge leading the charge, their aspirations remain high, and fans can expect many more electrifying moments from their star slugger.