The home runs keep flying and the records keep falling for Aaron Judge.
The Yankees captain obliterated another long ball mark despite Saturday’s 5-2 loss to the Cubs, becoming the fastest player in major league history to reach 350 career home runs — and doing so more than a full season faster than the previous record holder.
Judge’s two-run shot to right-center in the ninth inning got him to 350 in 1,088 career games, or 192 faster than Mark McGwire reached that total during his playing days.
“I honestly got nothing, to be honest,” Judge said with a shrug and a broad smile after the game. “It would have been great if we got a win today, to do something like that.
“But I’ve been surrounded by some great teammates and been on some good teams that have really put me in the best position top go out there and perform at my best. So it’s really just a shoutout to all the teammates I’ve had over the years.”
It’s far more than that, of course, as No. 99 belted 52 home runs in his first full season in the majors in 2017.
He then set the American League record with 62 — one more than Yankees legend Roger Maris — in 2022 before also going deep 58 times in 2024.
“Wow. I mean, I don’t know what to say about it. Because I just think he’s playing in a different league,” Aaron Boone said. “I just had a moment with him in there [in the clubhouse], just congratulating him, like, that’s a pretty big number along the way. The fact that it’s 200 games [faster than McGwire] is just a testament to his greatness.”
After Judge, the next five fastest to that figure are McGwire (1,280 games), Juan Gonzalez (1,298), Alex Rodriguez (1,301), Harmon Killebrew (1,319) and Albert Pujols (1,320).
Interestingly, only Killebrew is in the Hall of Fame among that group, with the first three not voted in due to PED connections or allegations, while Pujols is not eligible for induction in Cooperstown until 2028.
Asked if he’s ever met or spoken with McGwire, who blasted 70 home runs in 1998, Judge replied, “I’ve talked to McGwire, oh yeah. We really didn’t talk much [about] hitting, just getting to know him a little bit, we talked about his son a little bit when his son was getting into it.
“Nothing crazy. Big Mac did a lot of great things in this game, and he’s definitely a legend, so it was cool when I got the opportunity to meet him and talk with him on the phone a little bit. He’s a special one, that’s for sure. … He’s been great over the years.”
Judge, who is hitting .358 following a 3-for-4 afternoon, also easily can claim the most homers of any player through 1,088 games — 50 more than Hall of Fame slugger Ralph Kiner.
His 35 homers this season represent the most by a Yankee before the All-Star break, eclipsing his previous best of 34 from one year ago.
