What does Aaron Judge think about breaking the home run record again with the Yankees?
The new captain of the New York ninth visualizes the following season in which the possibility exists that he could break the home run record once again.
At the end of the 2022 season, New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Jones was put under a microscope to follow his incredible performance which culminated in the record for most home runs in one season in the history of the league.
Judge dusted off the books to put his name at the top of the list, surpassing the mark set by Roger Maris (61) in the 1961 season with 62 homers.
With a $360 million contract extension that included the captaincy of the Bronx Bombers, Judge is preparing to enter a new season with the World Series championship in mind.
In his first appearance with the media, Judge was asked if he believes it is possible to hit 62 or more home runs in the coming season.
“Could be. You never know. I’m looking forward to it. Every time you’re in New York, I feel like you’re chasing history. I’m used to those moments and I’m looking forward to them. Whether it’s historic or not, I’m looking forward to getting things going,” answered Judge at the start of spring camp in Florida.
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A feat difficult to repeat
The bar for Judge is high considering it took 61 years for a hitter to remove Maris’s name from the list of most home runs in the history of a season in the new circuit, but Judge’s drive could push it to numbers that are currently not even imagined.
“I think the most important thing for him is to make sure he stays motivated and keep him healthy,” said manager Aaron Boone.
“If that’s the case, greatness will find its way. Whether it’s not 60 home runs again or 62 home runs again or whatever, if he’s healthy, he’s going to go out there and have an MVP-caliber season. There’s no question in my mind about that. In that sense, I’m not at all worried about the hangover he might have from a historic campaign like he had last year.”
By the final month of last season, almost all of Judge’s at-bats turned into must-watch performances. Yankee Stadium stood up and fell silent whenever he came up to bat. There were groans from the fans when he dared to hit just one single, let alone make an out.
Hungry judge
The demands of winning a World Series title for the Yankees has become more taxing on the team’s players.
Judge will have to deal with this situation and others in his first season as captain.
He hopes to help the Yankees end a lengthy championship drought dating back to 2009, the season that inaugurated the new Yankee Stadium.
“That sound in the clubhouse after a (season-ending) loss is probably the worst feeling a player can have. You don’t know what to say. You don’t know what to do. All of a sudden you go from preparing every day for this game, and this is the most important game of your life, and all of a sudden you’re done and the offseason starts,” said Judge.
The 30-year-old is the first player who has taken the position of captain since the retirement of Derek Jeter.
“I understand the responsibilities that come with being the captain of this team, of this organization that is the most winning sport in America. I am hungry for victory, to show what this group of players that make up the team is capable of and I am sure that my teammates are with the same hunger”.
The team is now filled with well-paid, accomplished veteran stars like Judge, Gerrit Cole and Giancarlo Stanton who have never tasted that quintessential Yankee moment.