Aaron Judge Narrows Gap on Shohei Ohtani Despite 54-Game Absence, Solidifying GOAT Status

The New York Yankees’ outfielder, Aaron Judge, is known for his skill and charisma among his team members. Standing the test of time since he was declared 16th Captain, Judge held his composure and command over the game. However, lately, the Yankees have been going through a relatively troublesome season since the absence of their star player. But the question is, is it fair to attribute the Yankees’ failures to Judge? Before concluding, here comes the Home Run chart, which significantly raises eyebrows. 

The diamond has missed the 31-year-old outfielder greatly due to his injuries. However, ‘Captain Crush’ has turned the tables since he got off the injured list after his toe injury on June 3rd. And now a recently surfaced tweet containing the home run charts ties the right fielder to some of the most prominent figures in AL.

Aaron Judge: Acing His Homers As If There Was No Injury

The MLB season of 2023 has been one crazy ride for the Yankees. The team has shown a series of disappointing performances, and the fans have been vocal about it. The Captain is steering clear of any spirit-crushing statements because his performance speaks for itself in a recent tweet by @NY_EvilEmpire, which read, “really tied for 4th in homers”.

Judge’s appearance in the list narrows the gap between one of the most influential players this season has seen, Los Angeles Angles star Shohei Ohtani. The 29-year-old ‘Shotime’ stands in the number one position with the most home runs this season with a striking 44.

Nevertheless, Aaron Judge’s performance sets the stage for fans to witness a solid GOAT status. It is a matter of pride and awe to witness the Yankees captain give close competition with his homers even though he couldn’t play 54 games. He stands tied with Boston Red Sox third baseman, Rafael Devers with a stunning 29 homers in close competition to Texas Rangers’ outfielder, Adolis Garcia. But what about his projections?

Judge On Way To Prove His 2023 HR Total Projections Right

Judge’s home run projection depends significantly on how his health is. If his health allows him to stay in the lineup long enough (140-150 games), one can foresee over 45.5. However, if he misses substantial time due to injuries, his average would dip to 41.

The projections show that with another quality season in 2023, Judge might end up with more than halfway to 500 career home runs. Notably, this is an important milestone to get into the Hall of Fame. So far, he is on the right track, not putting his capability under question.

Read More: Yankees Captain Aaron Judge Opens Up About His Alternate Career Path if Not a Baseball Player

The Yankees captain also stands in line with some of the other great players this season has ever seen. He proves that his hip or toe injury will not stop him from hitting numerous homers, winning the hearts of fans yet again. And the Yankees’ fate might turn around this season owing to Judge’s outstanding capability.

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