Jun 4, 2022; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Jessica Alcheh-USA TODAY Sports

Aaron Judge outpacing Roger Maris for single-season home run record

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Alex Evans | Last updated 6/4/22

Aaron Judge is having an MVP-caliber season for the New York Yankees and on track to have one of the all-time great power seasons in team history.

Judge, 30, hit his league-leading 21st home run on Saturday during the first inning of the Yankees’ 3-0 win over the Detroit Tigers. With that homer, he joined Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle and Luke Voit as just the fourth Yankee ever to record at least 21 homers through the first 53 games of a season.

All Rise for a Leadoff Dinger pic.twitter.com/QMvbdVYWO4

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 4, 2022

Judge, the American League Player of the Month for May, is also ahead of the pace Mantle and Roger Maris set when Maris broke the Yankees’ single-season home run record with 61 in 1961.

Through 53 games that year, Maris had 20 homers and Mantle had 18. After Saturday, Judge is on track for 63 home runs, 126 RBIs and 183 hits.

Through #Yankees' 53rd game of the season…

2022 Judge 21 HRs

1961 Maris 20 HRs
1961 Mantle 18 HRs

— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) June 4, 2022

At his current pace, Aaron Judge would finish the season at these numbers:
63 homers
27 doubles
129 runs
126 RBI
183 hits
72 walks

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) June 4, 2022

The three-time All-Star is having arguably the best season of any player in MLB.

He currently leads the majors in home runs (21), slugging percentage (.689) and OPS (1.075), while leading the American League in runs scored (43). His 42 RBIs are tied for the fifth-most in MLB, and his 61 hits leave him in a four-way tie for ninth place. Judge also leads the majors with 133 total bases.

If Judge continues on this torrid pace for the entire season, he should have no problem eclipsing the Yankees’ pre-season contract extension offer.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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