NEW YORK, NY – In 2022, Aaron Judge shattered Roger Maris’s American League home run record by belting 62 bombs, electrifying Yankee Stadium and the entire baseball world. Now in 2024, the 6’7” slugger is once again rewriting history—only this time, he’s chasing himself.
As of early June, Judge has already launched 23 home runs, putting him ahead of his 2022 pace. His slugging percentage is north of .660, and he leads all of MLB in hard-hit rate, barrel percentage, and exit velocity. He’s crushing fastballs, sliders, curveballs—it doesn’t matter what pitchers throw.
What’s more impressive is that he’s doing this with more plate discipline. His walk rate is up, his strikeouts are slightly down, and he’s getting better pitches to hit thanks to the Yankees’ improved lineup. With Juan Soto hitting behind him, Judge is seeing more strikes—and taking full advantage.
If he stays healthy (which has always been the key), Judge has a real shot at breaking 60 again. No player in the modern era—not even Barry Bonds—has hit 60+ homers twice. And if Judge surpasses his own record? We might need to start talking about him as one of the greatest power hitters in baseball history.
