In 2022, New York Yankees star slugger Aaron Judge raked Major League baseball with an unimaginable home run spree. After hitting 33 home runs in the first half, the outfielder exploded in the second half to script an all-time high league record. He surpassed Roger Maris to become the slugger to hit the most number of homers in a single season (62).
Hitting 62 home runs in a single MLB season is an extraordinary feat. Aaron Judge himself hasn’t come to terms with it even today. But there is a player who possesses the ability to break this record, that too, this season itself. He is one of the best players in MLB right and also remains in red-hot form. He is all set to challenge Judge’s home run record, but it remains far from his priority list.
Aaron Judge’s Home Run Record Is On Shohei Ohtani’s Mind, But Not In The Priority List!
Los Angeles Angels star two-way player Shohei Ohtani is the next big thing the MLB is going to witness in the next decade. His two-way slugging and pitching skills make him an invaluable player. It is predicted that his market value in the free agent market could touch the magical figure of $600 million. This is a perfect testament to Ohtani’s meteoric rise. Meanwhile, the two-way player has a golden opportunity to not only enter the history books of the sport but also further up his stakes in the market. This season, Shohei remains in red-hot form. In 89 games, he has hit .302 with a league-high 32 home runs, 71 RBIs, and 1.050 OPS.
Shohei Ohtani still has 71 games left to play this season. If he manages to play every single game from here on, the projections predict him to breach Aaron Judge’s all-time high 62 home run record. When a question related to this was popped to the two-way player, he admitted that he would like to surpass the Yankees captain to become the ultimate home run king of baseball. However, his top priority is to stay healthy and make his team win. That will always be the main focus above all. His team, Los Angeles Angels, is out of playoff contention for now as they slipped to fourth spot in the West division. As a result, Ohtani needs to take their team to the postseason first to stand a chance at breaking Judge’s homer record.
Yankees Could Target Ohtani During Trade Deadline!
Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani being teammates in New York sound like a wild dream. But the Yankees can turn it into reality during the upcoming trade deadline. With Angles struggling to stay alive in the playoff race, they might be willing to ship away Ohtani for a good deal rather than lose him for nothing in next year’s free agency. The only problem for the Yankees is the asking price.
Shohei Othani’s current market value is over $500 million. Hence, the Angles will push the Yankees to empty their farm system in exchange. While it may seem a high risk, the Yankees should take the plunge as they need someone like Ohtani to salvage this season. Ultimately it’s up to the Yankees to determine what’s in the best interest of the team and assess whether they want to prioritize making this season better or shaping the future of the club.
