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With Hank Aaron Behind Him, Aaron Judge Sets Sights on A-Rod

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kristie Ackert | Last updated Jun 24, 2025 3:22 PM ET

Aaron Judge continues to chase history, but it has mostly been ghosts he's running down. Now, it’s getting personal.

With his 343rd career home run on Monday night in Cincinnati, Judge passed Hank Aaron and moved into seventh place on the all-time list for home runs through a player’s first 10 MLB seasons, according to Stats Centre. Just ahead of him? A name Yankees fans know well. Alex Rodriguez had 345.

That number is within reach as soon as Tuesday night in Cincinnati.

Every name ahead of him is a Hall of Famer or someone who spent most of his career being treated like one. Albert Pujols tops the list with 408. Eddie Mathews (370), Ralph Kiner (369), Adam Dunn (354), and Ken Griffey Jr. (350) round out the top five.

And sitting in sixth, with only two more than Judge is Rodriguez, who finished his career with 696 and a reputation that’s still polarizing in the Bronx.

Judge is doing things even prime A-Rod didn’t do in pinstripes.

Since the start of the 2025 season, Judge has been on fire—he’s slashing an insane .367/.468/.734 with 28 homers and a 1.202 OPS, leading the league in average and OPS.

The difference between the two Yankees' legends is durability.

A‑Rod logged 1,275 games across his first 10 seasons; Judge has overcome serious injuries in 2018, 2019, and the pandemic-shortened 2020, yet still finds himself knocking on history’s door.

If he stays healthy, Judge has a shot to finish the year among the top five on that list. Griffey Jr. (350) and Dunn (354) are in range. The 400 club is another conversation—but it’s no longer out of the question.

Judge isn't just chasing the ghosts of the Bronx like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig now, he's on the heels of the current generation of Yankees greats.

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

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