The rich history of the New York Yankees is steeped in iconic moments that have defined the game and perpetuated themselves in the minds of generations. Among those moments, the 1961 season stands as a beacon, where Roger Maris (61 HR) y Mickey Mantle (54 HR) They were on one of the most memorable runs to the single-season home run record. Both surpassed the mythical figure of 50 home runs, making the Yankees the only team in the history of the Major Leagues in having two of their players accomplish such a feat in the same season. Today, more than six decades later, the Yankees seem to be on the verge of witnessing a similar feat with Aaron Judge and Juan Soto.
In the vast history of the Major League Baseballthere has only been 48 seasons in which a player has hit 50 home runsthe most recent being for the Yankees Aaron Judge’s 2022when he set an American League record with 62 home runs. The Bronx Bombers have 10 of those seasons, the most in league history.
Aaron Judge, with 43 homers to date, and Juan Soto, with 34are in an enviable position to achieve the 50 home runs each by the end of the 2024 season. As the season heads into its final stretch, expectations for what both players can accomplish are at an all-time high. If both manage to cross the 50-homer barrier, Not only will they join Maris and Mantle in the record books, but they will reaffirm the Yankees as a true offensive powerhouse. Right now, with 186 total home runs, the Yankees are second only to the Orioles in this department.
The Impact of Judge and Soto on the 2024 Yankees
The contributions of Judge and Soto have been crucial in keeping the Yankees in contention in the highly competitive American League East division. With 43 homers, Judge leads the team in power, while Soto, with 34 homers, has established himself as a constant presence in the heart of the lineup. Together, they have totaled 77 homers.a figure that not only underlines his ability to hit the ball with authority, but also his capacity to define the destiny of the team.
Thanks to the contributions of these two superstars, the Yankees remain in the tight race to capture the American League East pennant. The Orioles and New Yorkers have been tied in the standings for almost two weeks.
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN: Judge, the fastest in history to reach 300 HR
Beyond the numbers, the importance of these two hitters lies in their ability to transform the game. Judge, with a .982 OPS, has established himself as one of the most feared players in the league, while Soto, with an OBP of .414has stood out as one of the best contact hitters, combining his patience at the plate with explosive power. This combination of skills makes them a constant threat to any pitcher.
Projection Towards the End of the Season
With just over a month remaining in the regular season, both players have a good chance to continue racking up home runs. Considering that Aaron Judge has been maintaining a pace of roughly one home run every 3.5 games and that the Yankees have 35 games remaining, it’s reasonable to project that Judge could finish the season with around 53 home runs, which would once again put him in the elite of power hitters in the MLB.
On the other hand, Juan Soto has maintained a pace of one home run every 4.2 games. If this pace continues, Soto could add at least 8 more home runs to his tally, bringing his total to 42.However, if Soto experiences a late-season surge, as great hitters tend to do, reaching 50 would not be out of reach.
For example, he hit four home runs in four consecutive at-bats between Tuesday and Wednesday when they visited Chicago.
Related news
Judge, with his 43 homers, 110 RBIs, .467 on-base percentage, .707 slugging percentage and 1.174 OPS, is having a stellar season. Soto, with a .438 OBP, .615 slugging percentage, .307 average, 34 homers and 87 RBIs, continues to shine, even in Judge’s shadow. It’s notable that Soto, despite his impressive performance, continues to operate in the shadow of the towering Judge. For perspective, Shohei Ohtani, on the other coast, has hit just three more home runs than Soto and has one fewer RBI.
Follow the AS Newspaper channel on WhatsAppwhere you will find all things sport in one place: the latest news of the day, the agenda with the latest news on the most important sporting events, the most outstanding images, the opinion of the best AS journalists, reports, videos and, why not, a bit of humour from time to time.
