Yankees star Aaron Judge becomes fastest player to 300 home runs in MLB history
CHICAGO — In the midst of an MVP-caliber season, Aaron Judge has reached another home run milestone.
And this time, incredibly, a team actually walked Juan Soto intentionally to face Judge with first base open.
On Wednesday night at Guaranteed Rate Field, the Yankees' captain launched career home run No. 300 off Chicago White Sox right-hander Chad Kuhl, a three-run shot in the eighth inning.
Judge's MLB-leading 43rd homer of the year also made him the fastest player — in terms of games — to reach 300 career homers, according to Elias.
Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner held the previous record at 1,087 games. Judge made it to 300 homers in just 955 games, per Elias.
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The milestone baseball, which landed in the White Sox's bullpen, was retrieved and given to Judge following the Yankees' 10-2 win.
"All I know is, what Aaron is doing is pretty special,'' Yankees manager Aaron Boone said earlier this week.
After belting three homers in Tuesday night's 4-1 win at Chicago, Soto launched a solo shot in the first inning — giving the lefty slugger four homers in his last four official at-bats (he also walked).
On Wednesday night, the Yankees led 6-2 after Alex Verdugo's RBI double. Interim White Sox manager Grady Sizemore chose to intentionally walk Soto to get to Judge, who responded by making home run history.
“I call him the greatest hitter in the world,’’ Soto said Tuesday of his Triple Crown-threat teammate.
“Look at his numbers, he’s just unbelievable. He makes my job easier. He makes my plate appearances a little bit better.
“When you’re hitting in front of a guy like that, you know you’re getting pitches. He’s the greatest one.’’
After Judge belted career homer No. 299 on Sunday in the Bronx, Boone admitted again how he sometimes takes Judge's greatness as a hitter for granted.
"I try to remind myself every now and then … what I’m getting to watch over there, with what he’s able to do,'' said Boone. "And just the player and the hitter he’s become. It’s remarkable.''
Judge is just the seventh player in the storied history of the Yankees to hit 300 home runs for the Bronx Bombers, joining Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra and Alex Rodriguez.
A-Rod, with 351 home runs as a Yankee, is next on the franchise's all-time homer list. Ruth leads the franchise with 659 home runs as a member of the Yankees.
Judge, 32, already holds the franchise, and American League, record for most homers in a season after he smashed 62 in 2022. Slightly behind that pace this season, Judge might have one specific obstacle as he challenges his own mark — the increased frequency of intentional walks.