Aaron Judge is seeing dollar signs.
The Yankees slugger is putting together a season for the ages in a contract year. He was the first MLB player to 40 home runs in 2022, and he has been going deep nonstop this weekend with four home runs in three games against the Royals. He's showing no signs of slowing down from his ridiculous first half, and it feels as if he might do something special every time he's at the plate.
Judge reached 40 on Friday when he raked a changeup to left field in the third inning against Kansas City starter Kris Bubic. He repeated the feat with an opposite-field grand slam in the eighth inning to cap an eight-run rally and an 11-5 Yankees win.
With that performance,
He also became the first player ever to have nine multi-home run games before August.MORE: Why Joey Gallo's Yankees tenure has turned out to be a bust
In an encore performance Saturday, Judge set a franchise record for home runs before August — passing Ruth — with his 42nd, another opposite-field shot, in the second inning. It also happened to be the 200th homer of his career.
He simply doesn't stop!
— MLB (@MLB) July 30, 2022
No. 42 for @TheJudge44. pic.twitter.com/NN0gaL9DYuAfter Saturday's game, another Yankees win, Judge is on pace to record the ninth 60 home run-season in MLB history (he's on pace for 66). The players who have hit at least 60:
Player, team Year HRs Barry Bonds, Giants 2001 73 Mark McGwire, Cardinals 1998 70 Sammy Sosa, Cubs 1998 66 Mark McGwire, Cardinals 1999 65 Sammy Sosa, Cubs 2001 64 Sammy Sosa, Cubs 1999 63 Roger Maris, Yankees 1961 61 Babe Ruth, Yankees 1927 60 Judge would be the first player since Roger Maris to hit 60 outside of the Steroid Era.
While there's still a lot of season left, and any player can go cold at any time, Judge has found ways to improve out of his slumps. With the Yankees pursuing the top seed in the AL and a first-round bye in the playoffs, Judge will have to continue to be strong down the stretch. Thus far, that hasn't been a problem.