Aaron Judge succeeded Derek Jeter as the new captain of the New York Yankees in 2022. It happened after All Rise broke the American League record for most homers in a regular season. Moreover, in 2022, the 6’7 superstar slugger won the AL Most Valued Player award as well. Eventually, the New York organization decided to introduce their 16th captain in franchise history. However, as the new captain of the NY side, All Rise did not have instant success. On the contrary, the Bronx Bombers failed miserably in 2023. They have not been able to make the postseason for the first time since 2016. Moreover, the Yankees had the second-worst batting average in the league last year.
They only had a better average than the nine-time World Series champions, the Oakland Athletics. Moreover, Aaron Judge suffered a severe injury in his toe. Later, it turned out to be a torn ligament that kept him out for almost two months. As a result, the Yankees captain could not convert the good start to the last season into a great one like in 2022. Aaron Judge could only hit 37 home runs last year. Even in 2024, the Yankees captain had a pretty slow start, which became a concern for the fans and the team. Despite the slow start, Aaron Judge managed to equal his predecessor’s homer tally.
Aaron Judge Equals Derek Jeter’s Home Run Record
The new captain of the Yankees joins “The Captain.” Lately, against the Cleveland Guardians, the AL 2022 MVP matched the iconic shortstop of the NY side, Derek Jeter, in a home run tally. Moreover, Jeter played for the Bronx Bombers throughout his 20-year-long career. The legendary shortstop won five World Series with the Yankees. Lately, his successor, as the new captain of the franchise, hit his 260th career home run. Since his big league debut in 2016, Aaron Judge always showcased his hitting prowess and his love for hitting homers. For Judge, it only took 251 games for him to reach that milestone. On the other hand, Derek Jeter took 2,747 games to hit 260 home runs.
The Captain joins The Captain!@TheJudge44 ties Derek Jeter on the @Yankees all-time HR list with No. 260. pic.twitter.com/K4gOfl7UBN
— MLB (@MLB) April 14, 2024
Jeter had a 71.3 WAR in MLB for the Bombers, and he racked up 3,465 hits between 1995 and 2014. The former shortstop of the Yankees was a 14-time All-Star. He had an average of .310 and a .817 OPS. At present, Aaron Judge looks like he will be the captain of the Yankees until the end of his contract in 2031. In 2023, the 16th captain of the NY side broke in their top ten all-time homer leaderboards. Last year, Aaron Judge surpassed the 250 home run mark of Graig Nettles. Now, if everything goes right, the 2022 AL MVP should pass catcher Jorge Posada (275 homers) and outfielder Bernie Williams (287 home runs) in 2024. Both Posada and Williams have been lifetime Yankees.
Despite A Tough Loss Against The Guardians, Judge’s Homer Is A Memorable One
The Yankees captain led the team from the front, hitting a 450-foot home run on Sunday against the Cleveland Guardians. But that was not enough, as the Guardians won 8-7 in extra innings. Nevertheless, Aaron Judge’s 450-foot homer on Sunday meant so much more for the fans. Moreover, the Yankees have not lost a series yet in the 2024 season. Currently, they are 12-4. But Judge equaled Derek Jeter in the Yankees’ home run leaderboards, which is a special one.
In addition, the Yankees captain is gradually getting back to his groove, and that’s a good sign. So far in 2024, Aaron Judge has three home runs in 56 plate appearances, nine RBIs, and a .214 average. The Yankees may have lost the last game in the series, but Judge’s homer was one of the biggest highlights of that game.
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