A Season for the Ages: Aaron Judge and Juan Soto's Historic Pace
The 2022 Major League Baseball season is shaping up to be a historic one, particularly due to the astronomical performances of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto. Both power hitters are not only launching home runs at an impressive rate but are also making significant impacts on their teams’ overall success. Their individual and collective feats are drawing comparisons to some of the most iconic seasons in baseball history.
In 2022, Aaron Judge set the American League single-season home run record with a remarkable 62 home runs. This season, he is continuing to hammer baseballs out of the park with 51 home runs already under his belt. Judge remains on pace to surpass his own record with a projected 63 home runs by season's end. Complementing his prodigious power, Judge has amassed a current Wins Above Replacement (WAR) of 9.4, and forecasts suggest he might reach an astounding season-long WAR of 11.5.
For context, the last player to register a WAR close to that figure was Barry Bonds, who had an 11.7 WAR in 2002, one of the most storied seasons in baseball history.
On the other side of the diamond, Juan Soto has quietly, yet emphatically, placed himself among the elite in the league. The pending free agent has already crushed 37 home runs this season, tying him for fourth in the league. Soto is on target for a total of 45 home runs by the end of the season. His impressive achievements don’t stop at the plate; Soto's WAR currently stands at 7.5, positioning him fourth in Major League Baseball. Projections suggest that Soto’s season-long WAR could reach 9.2, putting him squarely in the MVP conversation.
Together, Judge and Soto’s combined power is a rare spectacle. Collectively, they are on pace to smash 108 home runs this season. Achieving such a feat would place them among the only five previous pairs of teammates in Major League history to reach such a prolific combined total.
Remarkably, the only team ever to field two players who each surpassed 50 home runs in a single season was the 1961 New York Yankees. This legendary team featured Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, whose home run chase captivated the baseball world. If Judge and Soto can each surpass the 50-home run mark, they will etch their names alongside Mantle and Maris in the annals of Yankees history.
Furthermore, the Yankees are chasing another historical milestone. The last time the franchise saw two teammates each accumulate a WAR over 10 was in 1927, a season dominated by the legendary Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Such illustrious pairings highlight the exceptional level of performance Judge and Soto are contributing to their team in 2022. If both players maintain their trajectory, it would represent one of the most statistically impressive duos in nearly a century of baseball.
The potential impact these players can have on their team’s success cannot be overstated. Their combination of power, consistency, and overall contribution is a vital component of the Yankees’ hunt for postseason glory. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if Judge and Soto can maintain their blistering pace and make history in the process.
As the regular season winds down and the stakes heighten, the performances of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto will be a key narrative. Home run records, WAR milestones, and a daunting list of historic comparisons create a rich tapestry of intrigue and excitement. Baseball aficionados and casual fans alike will find themselves riveted as this dynamic duo continues to rewrite the record books and lead their team toward potential championship glory.