Aaron Judge Hits 54th Home Run, Staying Ahead of Roger Maris

“I think when you put it up with the context of where the league’s at — who’s the next guy in the American League, Yordan, with 31 homers?” Boone said, referring to Houston’s Yordan Alvarez, who indeed ranked second in the A.L. with 31 home runs before Monday. “I mean, that’s amazing.”

Judge, of course, began the season by turning down the Yankees’ seven-year, $213.5 million contract offer — a fortune, clearly, but the average annual salary ($30.5 million) would not have ranked among the top 10 in the game. Judge has proved his personal value while immersing himself in the team.

“He comes up to us and talks pitching all the time,” starter Jameson Taillon said. “If he gets out, he’s immediately rooting on the next guy. And it’s all genuine. It’s not like he’s doing it to say, ‘Look at me, I’m a good team guy.’ He just genuinely is that invested in everybody.”

The Yankees have not had a losing record since 1992, the year Judge was born, and he wants a championship attached to his legacy. But 61 or more homers this season would all but ensure something else for Judge: a spot beyond the outfield in Monument Park, just like Maris.

“I don’t want to say anything too soon, but the way it’s going, he could be out in center field one day,” Kiner-Falefa said. “To be able to play with somebody that has that honor, it’s something that you’re going to remember for the rest of your life.”

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/05/sports/baseball/aaron-judge-yankees-twins.html