Aaron Judge continues to be in a class of his own.

Judge hit his 50th home run of the season on Sunday against the Rockies at Yankee Stadium, reaching the 50-run mark for the third time in his career – and the second time before the month of September.

When Judge hit an American League record 62 home runs in 2022, it was hard to imagine the New York hitter ever reaching that milestone again, simply because it’s so difficult. With each home run, however, 62 for 2024 becomes a little more realistic.

Make it 5⃣0⃣ for the judge 🫡#AllAscension pic.twitter.com/BG8ThS33fP

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) 25 August 2024

Here’s a look at Judge’s home run pace and whether 62 home runs is within reach for the AL MVP favorite.

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Aaron Judge’s home run pace

With his 50th home run, a 431-footer in the first inning on Sunday, Judge is on pace to hit 62 home runs (rounded up from 61.8).

After Sunday, there are exactly five weeks of the regular season remaining, with 31 games for the Yankees in 35 days. Judge has hit a home run in 38% of Yankees games so far this season, and at that same pace he would hit just under 12 home runs over the rest of New York’s schedule.

There are several ways to evaluate Judge’s chances of hitting 62 home runs. For one thing, the weather cools in September, and it’s risky to bet on any hitter – even Judge – sustaining such a rapid pace.

On the other hand, Judge has had a sluggish April, which is hurting his pace. Since the beginning of May, he has hit 44 home runs in 100 games, which is on a pace of 71 home runs in 162 games. If Judge maintains his post-April pace over the final 31 games, he would be on pace to hit 14 home runs (rounded up from 13.6), surpassing his record of 62.

Aaron Judge is the first player since Mark McGwire in 1999 to have at least 41 home runs and 98 RBI over 90 games in a single season.

— Nugget Chef (@jayhaykid) 22 August 2024

It’s also safe to assume that Judge won’t get much rest in the closing stages as long as the Yankees’ division race with the Orioles remains so tight. The two teams entered Sunday’s race half a game apart.

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Most 50 home run seasons

Judge is one of five players in MLB history to hit 50 home runs in at least three seasons, along with Mark McGwire, Babe Ruth, Sammy Sosa and Alex Rodriguez.

Ruth remained alone at the top of the list until 1999, when McGwire recorded his fourth 50-home run season. Sosa joined him two years later. Of course, McGwire, Sosa and Rodriguez were found to have taken performance-enhancing drugs during portions of their careers.

Another 50-home run season from Judge would tie him for the all-time record, but the Yankees slugger has more pressing goals both individually and as a team. This year, he’s aiming for the Triple Crown and the MVP award while the Yankees are locked in a tight battle with the Orioles in the AL East.