In a thrilling Tuesday night showdown, the New York Yankees endured a narrow 5-4 defeat at the hands of the visiting Cincinnati Reds. Despite the loss, the evening was punctuated by notable individual performances, especially from Aaron Judge, who continues to etch his name into baseball history.
Judge had a night to remember, going 3-for-4 at the plate, and delivering yet another home run. This was his 32nd home run of a season that's shaping up to be one for the record books. What makes this feat even more impressive is the fact that Judge reached this milestone on July 2, mirroring his home run total on July 16 of last season. In 2022, Judge set the American League record with a staggering 62 home runs—an achievement that cements his position as one of the most formidable hitters in baseball.
Judge's contributions are not limited to sheer power alone. As of Tuesday night, he boasts a league-leading batting average of .321, accompanied by 83 RBIs, making him the undisputed leader in all three Triple Crown categories. This dominance raises a tantalizing possibility: could Judge become the first player to win the Triple Crown since Miguel Cabrera achieved the feat with the Detroit Tigers in 2012? Only time will tell.
To put his performance into perspective, consider this: the last American League player to secure the Triple Crown before Cabrera was Carl Yastrzemski of the Boston Red Sox in 1967. Meanwhile, Joe Medwick of the St. Louis Cardinals was the last National League player to accomplish this in 1937. The rarity of such a feat underscores Judge's exceptional season, as he vies to join an elite club of baseball legends.
Judge's dominance is further illustrated by his on-base plus slugging (OPS) of 1.158, a figure that dwarfs the performance of his peers. Even Shohei Ohtani, another standout in the majors, trails Judge by over 100 points in OPS. Steven Kwan, with a batting average of .362, comes closest to challenging Judge's supremacy in this category. However, Kwan has yet to achieve qualifying status, having missed more than three weeks with a hamstring strain.
The backdrop of the Yankees' recent performance adds another layer to Judge's remarkable season. Facing off against the Reds, the Yankees demonstrated both their strengths and areas for improvement. While the narrow loss is a setback, the individual brilliance on display from Judge provides a silver lining.
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Aaron Judge. Can he sustain this level of performance and complete a rare Triple Crown? Will his contributions be enough to push the Yankees deeper into the postseason? These are questions that only the coming months can answer, but one thing is certain: Judge's presence on the field is a spectacle baseball fans won't want to miss.