It seems like chasing home run records will be a yearly pursuit for Aaron Judge.
Two seasons after hitting an AL-record 62 in 2022, Judge was on pace to challenge that record until a 16-game late-season drought scuttled those chances.
The 32-year-old still finished with 58 home runs after going long in five straight games in the final week of the season.
Another prolific season is expected to earn him his second AL MVP and gave the Yankees the best record in the American League.
Judge challenged for the triple crown, leading the AL in home runs and RBIs, while he finished 10 points behind batting average leader Bobby Witt.
Where did they go?
Here’s a look at where all of Judge’s 58 home runs went this season.
Highlight homers:
Judge spurned the Giants in free agency and then crushed them on the field. The Bay Area native smashed two home runs in his first homecoming game, leading the Yankees to the first of what would be three straight wins in San Francisco.
Balls don’t go that deep in the Yankee Stadium bleachers. Judge rocketed one to left field against the Blue Jays’ Kevin Gausman on Aug. 2 in the fifth inning in what would be a 8-5 Yankees defeat. It would be his longest home run of the season.
Aaron Judge becomes the fastest player ever to reach 300 home runs, when he hit a three-run shot off of the White Sox’s Chad Kohl in the ninth inning on Aug. 14. Judge accomplished the feat in 955 games, besting Ralph Kiner who did so in 1,087 games.
Sept. 13: Ends drought in style
It had been 16 games since Judge homered last, but he couldn’t have picked a more perfect moment to end that streak. Judge launched a grand slam in the seventh inning against the Red Sox turning a 4-1 deficit into a 5-4 advantage. The Yankees went on to win the game by that score in a win that helped propel them to an AL East crown.
What’s next
Judge leads the Yankees into the postseason — starting with Witt and the Royals in the ALDS on Oct. 5 — as he chases his first World Series title.
It will be his seventh trip to the playoffs, three of which have ended in the ALCS against the Astros.
