The Judge File
Team: New York Yankees
Height: 6-7
Weight: 282
Age: 30
Birthday: 4/26/1992
Average Exit Velo: 95.9 mph
College; Fresno State
Draft: 32nd overall pick, 2013
Contract: Signed a 9-year, $360 million extension with the New York Yankees after the 2022 season
WAG: Samantha Bracksieck
Children: N/A
Records/Accomplishments:
- Four All-Star selections, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022
- Won the American League MVP award, 2022
- Two All-MLB First Team selections, 2021, 2022
- Won the American League Rookie of the Year award, 2017
- Holds the American League single-season home run record (62), 2022
Judge Aaron Judge's Record
How legit is Aaron Judge’s record?
Perhaps the most pervasive storyline of the second half was Aaron Judge’s home run chase. He would go on to set the record for most home runs in a 162-game season by an American League player, 62.
But just how legit is the New York Yankees captain’s record? Major League Baseball has been in hot water before when it comes to the manufacturing and deploying of baseball’s, with the juiced ball running rampant around the league. MLB wanted more scoring, they got more scoring.
Then, hitters wanted to be paid more for their scoring, and the league didn’t like that. Whether they dialed back on the juiced balls for monetary or not, the point remains: MLB stopped their efforts to inflate scoring. The balls were deadened, reducing scoring league-wide…mostly.
A study by Dr. Meredith Wills, working with Bradford William Davis of Insider, collected 200 balls from the 2022 season. Of those, 36 were deemed “Goldilocks balls,” a ball less lively than its ancestor but substantially more “juiced” than the ones the everybody was using. A few were used during All-Star festivities and special events, a little less than half were used in the postseason. The remaining were used in Yankees games, late in the year.
Of course, they were only able to study the balls they were given, and not the thousands put into play and into the gloves of fans. But the data raises some serious questions. MLB was incentivized to give Judge the best possible chance at the record, and they very well could have taken that chance.
Do you think it is legitimate?