Aaron Judge became the fastest player to join the 300-homer club on Wednesday night with an eighth-inning shot.
Judge hit his 300th home run in his 955th major league game. The previous record was held by Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner, who did it in 1,087 games.
The New York Yankees star also hit his 300th home run in 3,428 career at-bats, breaking the mark set by fellow Yankee Babe Ruth, who achieved the feat nearly 100 years ago in 3,830 at-bats.
Judge’s historic homer came off Chicago White Sox reliever Chad Kuhl, who intentionally walked Juan Soto in the previous at-bat.
Soto has hit four homers in the past two days, but giving Judge a chance with multiple runners on base doesn’t seem wise in retrospect.
Aaron Judge became the fastest player to hit 300 home runs in Major League Baseball history
Judge reached the mark at an incredible pace, surpassing some of the best in the sport.
Two years ago, Aaron Judge hit 62 home runs in the regular season, with Wednesday night’s being his 43rd. Judge is on pace to hit 57 homers this season.
Judge is again the favorite to win the American League MVP award after an injury-plagued 2023.
Despite Judge’s incredible pace to reach home run number 300, he turned 32 in April, leaving him with a limited remaining window in his prime.
Judge will have to remain among baseball’s leaders for several more seasons to catch up with baseball’s all-time home run hitters.
Barry Bonds hit 73 home runs in one season at age 37, while Albert Pujols hit his 700th home run at age 41.
Judge was sprayed with water after the win over the White Sox due to his home run
Judge should be a Yankee for life, which means the next home run race in baseball has a chance of going right through the Bronx.
Judge is now one of 13 active players with at least 300 career home runs.
New York teammates Giancarlo Stanton and Anthony Rizzo are above Judge on that list, with Rizzo with 303 and Stanton leading all active players with 422 homers.
Judge becomes the seventh player to hit 300 home runs in a Yankees uniform.
The other six: Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra and Alex Rodriguez.
The Yankees defeated the White Sox 10-2.