The New York Yankees captain, Aaron Judge, and MLB’s most expensive player, Shohei Ohtani, are delivering one of the most memorable seasons this year. While Judge’s consistency and home run-hitting ability have seen no bounds, Ohtani’s base-stealing quality has broken all records.
Shohei Ohtani, who’s playing as a pure hitter this year, has already made history by becoming the first player to record a 50/50 season. And Aaron Judge is firmly in the mix for a home run record. Amid this, the duo stands a chance to recreate a magical feat that has been witnessed in MLB only 8 times since 1960.
Aaron Judge-Shohei Ohtani Nearing Iconic 400 Total Bases Mark
As the MLB season winds down, Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are in a rare competition and are not for MVP, which they have all but secured in their respective leagues. The duo are, in fact, nearing a historic milestone of reaching 400 total bases in a season. This mark is a significant achievement that has eluded players for over two decades. The last players to accomplish it were Sammy Sosa, Luis Gonzalez, Barry Bonds, and Todd Helton in 2001. Interestingly, Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ star, currently leads the race with 391 total bases and is on pace to finish with 406. He’s already etched his name in the history of MLB with a 50/50 record and is expected to continue his historic run.
On the other hand, New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge is at 379 total bases as of Monday. While he was once on pace for 400, a recent 16-game home run slump may have hurt his chances. Judge, however, remains a threat to catch up. Known for his streaks of massive power, Judge could still make a push to reach or even surpass 400 total bases, but it will require one of his signature hot streaks in the final week of the season. Should either or both players reach the 400-base mark, it would be the first time since 1978 that an American League player achieved this. The milestone would not only cap off their MVP seasons but would also further cement their status as two of the game’s most dominant players. With the playoffs just around the corner, both Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani will continue to hog the limelight.
Shohei Ohtani Catches Up To Judge In Home Run Race!
Aaron Judge was once on pace to hit 63 home runs this season before he hit a 16-game drought. So far, the Yankees captain has hit 54 home runs with two series in regular seasons left on the cards. However, Judge is facing a serious threat from his counterpart, Shohei Ohtani.
Shohei Ohtani, who’s playing as a full-time hitter this season, has already scaled a career-high 51 home runs. He is on pace to finish ahead of Aaron Judge in the home run tally, if not bagging the ultimate league record. Hence, as of now, Judge holds a slim lead, but with six games left, Ohtani remains a serious threat.
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