New York Yankees' Aaron Judge reached a significant milestone on Wednesday night by hitting his 300th career home run. The historic blast came in the top of the eighth inning with the Yankees leading 6-2 against the White Sox. Judge, known for his calm demeanor, showed some rare emotion as he smashed an inside fastball over the left field wall on a 3-0 count.
Not only did Judge make history with his 300th homer, but he also set a new record as the fastest player to achieve this feat in MLB history, surpassing Ralph Kiner by 132 games. Speaking to reporters after the game, Judge revealed that his anger stemmed from the White Sox's decision to intentionally walk Juan Soto, the hitter before him.
Despite usually being the one who is pitched around, Judge seized the opportunity to make a statement with his bat. The intentional walk to Soto fueled Judge's determination to deliver in that crucial moment. The fact that the pitch he hit for the home run would likely have been called a ball if he hadn't swung added to the impressive nature of his achievement.
White Sox interim manager Grady Sizemore explained the decision to walk Soto and pitch to Judge as a strategic move to navigate a challenging situation. Sizemore acknowledged the difficulty in facing both Soto and Judge, highlighting their exceptional performances throughout the season.
The dynamic duo of Soto and Judge has been a force to be reckoned with, causing opposing teams to struggle in choosing whom to pitch to. Both players have been on fire, with Judge maintaining a remarkable batting average and an outstanding performance in August.
As Judge continues to excel at the plate, his impact on the Yankees' lineup alongside Soto has been pivotal in their success this season. The dilemma for pitchers in facing these two standout hitters underscores the formidable presence they bring to the team.
