(Chicago) Aaron Judge became the fastest player in major league baseball history to hit 300 home runs Wednesday, doing so in the New York Yankees’ 10-2 victory over the White Sox in Chicago.
The Yankees slugger reached that milestone in 955 games and 3,431 at-bats, thanks to a three-run homer in the eighth inning.
The 32-year-old American hit a fastball from Chad Kuhl into the White Sox bullpen for his 43e circuit of the season, a peak in major league baseball.
“I was hoping to hit that homer in a win,” Judge said as teammates DJ LeMahieu and Austin Wells poured a tub of water over his head.
Ralph Kiner held the previous mark, hitting 300 home runs in 1,087 games. Babe Ruth did it in his 3,831e batting presence.
The White Sox gave up an intentional walk to Juan Soto to face Judge, who responded with this historic long ball.
“I was mad at that intentional walk, so it made me want to make them pay,” Judge said. “Normally, with a three-ball count and no strikes, I’m looking at the pitch to give the next guy a chance to hit, but in that situation, I couldn’t help but hit it.”
Judge leads the majors with 14 intentional walks. Soto, who hit three homers Tuesday and another Wednesday, had not gotten that treatment so far this season.
“It lit a fire in me, but I understand why they did it,” Judge said. “The way Juan hit the ball in that series, I probably would have done the same thing.”
PHOTO ERIN HOOLEY, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Aaron Judge
White Sox manager Grady Sizemore said Soto’s fourth homer prompted his decision.
“You pick your poison,” he said. “My goal wasn’t to play Judge, but there was an open goal and there was no easy way out. Soto has been the better of the two in this series, although Judge has been good, too.”
Judge has a .333 batting average and leads the majors with 110 RBIs.
“We were caught off guard,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of the intentional walk. “But Aaron was ready for a good at-bat.”
“I think he stretched the strike zone a little too much at 3-0,” he added with a laugh.