Let's skip Soto and explode in a three-ball, Judge 'The Fastest 300 Home Runs'...An annual salary of 54.4 billion won for a cartoon season is also cheap
Aug 15, 2024
|
|
San Francisco offered a nine-year, $360 million condition. The annual average of $40 million was the same as the Yankees, but the contract was one year longer. Judge's agent Paige Oddle called Steinbrenner to talk about the Giants' conditions, and drew the same conditions on the spot.
According to local media reports, Judge also visited the San Diego Padres after deciding to stay with the Yankees and was offered $414 million for 14 years, but San Diego was not such an attractive club for Judge, who had no intention of leaving the Yankees in the first place.
AAV $40 million was the highest ever for a batter at the time. Shohei Ohtani broke Judge's record late last year by signing a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but Judge's average annual ransom is still the highest for a pure hitter.
However, Judge suffered a toe injury last year, the first year of his contract, and missed for nearly two months, which was a big disappointment. Still, he hit a batting average of 0.267, 37 homers and 75 RBIs in 106 games and played his part when he was healthy.
And this season, Judge is redrawing 'Career High' beyond ransom expectations. He is continuing to become the second MVP of his life after 2022 when he recorded the most home runs in a season.
|
Judge set a milestone in his last at-bat with one out and runners on first and second base in the top of the eighth inning with a 6-2 lead. When the opponent's right-hander Chad Kuhl's 4th pitch, 94.2 miles sinker penetrated the body, he pulled it as it was and hit a line drive home run with a launch angle of 23 degrees and a hitting speed of 110.1 miles to put it at 361 feet.
It was a delightful shot that came right after the front batter Juan Soto went out to the intentional fourth pitch.
What should be noted is the speed at which 300 home runs are reached. Judge, who made his debut in 2016, hit 300 home runs in 955 games, the fewest ever, and 3,431 at-bats. He broke all of Ralph Kiner's previous minimum record of 1,087 games and Babe Ruth's 3831 at-bats. Judge is the only player in history to hit 300 home runs within 1,000 games and 3,500 at-bats.
Judge played as the third designated hitter and led the team to a 10-2 victory with two hits, three RBIs, two runs and one walk from four times at bat. After the game, Judge "I think he did a great job. I think I contributed a little to the game today, but we have a long way to go. I hope this is the way to win" expressed his feelings.
|
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said, `Aaron's performance is one of the best in major league history. There will be historical talk about his season. Judge is a great player and a great leader. Everyone seems really excited. What Judge has done..." he said with joy.
Judge ranks first in home runs (43), RBIs (110), walks (102), on-base percentage (0.467), slugging percentage (0.707), OPS (1.174), OPS+ (224), slugging (72), and Ruta (301). If you apply the current pace, you can hit 57 home runs and 146 RBIs this year. Judge ranks second in the category with a batting average of 0.333, just 0.016 behind the top-ranked Kansas City Royals Bobby Witt Jr. (0.349). A triple crown for both leagues' integrated hitting is also possible.
A tremendous season that cannot be imagined in modern baseball is unfolding even after the All-Star break. The annual salary of 40 million dollars (about 54.4 billion won) seems too small.
jhno@sportschosun.com
