Aaron Judge has made history again, adding another impressive stat to his growing list. That’s right, he has become the fastest Major League Baseball player to tally 250 career home runs, and not really by a close shot.
In his 810th career game, at the age of 31, Aaron Judge hit a solo home run, his 250th career home run, off Houston Astros’ Justin Verlander at Minute Maid Park in the Yankees’ 6-2 victory over the Astros Friday night.
Former NL MVP Ryan Howard was the previous record-holder, hitting the mark in 855 career games. The only other player in MLB history to reach the mark in under 900 career games is Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner who hit his 250th home run during the 1951 season in his 871st career game.
This home run also marked the Captain’s 30th of the season, which is an incredible feat in itself, but he did it in 81 games played.
426 ft for The Cap's 250th career homer 🚂🫡
Presented by @Delta pic.twitter.com/2xO4uzMxPq
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 2, 2023
The Martian makes history in Space City
The Yankees promoted prospects Jasson Dominguez (OF) and Austin Wells (C) ahead of Friday’s game and placed them in the lineup for what would be their first big league games respectively. Fans have been calling for Dominguez’ call-up since Spring Training. Well folks, the Martian has landed.
The 20-year old Dominican Republic native faced 40-year old three-time CY Young awardee Justin Verlander—who made his MLB debut when Dominguez was just two years old—in his first big league at-bat. The Martian wasted no time settling in to the big leagues and Space City.
In his first Major League swing, the second pitch, a 94.3 mph fastball down the middle, he blasted a two-run home run and became the youngest player in New York Yankees history to hit a home run in his first big league at-bat, and the first to do it since Aaron Judge and Tyler Austin went back-to-back in their debut on August 13, 2016.
“We were jumping up and down like little kids,” Aaron Judge told MLB’s Bryan Hoch. “It’s just impressive. I’m excited for him. We just felt a different energy on the bus coming to the field today. Just a little bit of excitement, a little bit of jitters. It was, all in all, a good day.”
1st swing in The Show. Unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/fr9GK5zxBI
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 2, 2023
Anthony Volpe makes rookie history
In Thursday’s game against the Detroit Tigers, Yankees’ shortstop Anthony Volpe tied the game up with a 3-run blast, his 20th career home run. Volpe is the first rookie in New York Yankees history to reach a stat line of 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases. This feat has been reached by just 14 players ahead of Volpe in MLB history.
Brand new ballgame 👏 pic.twitter.com/NRpYFwORri
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 31, 2023
In light of center fielder Harrison Bader being placed on waivers and picked up by the Reds and Josh Donaldson’s release this last week, the baby Bombers are certainly giving fans promise of brighter days ahead. The Yankees will play out two more games in a three-game series with the Astros before returning home for a homestand with the Detroit Tigers and Milwaukee Brewers.
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