Aaron Judge home run tracker: 8 away from breaking AL record

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is eight home runs away from breaking the MLB American League record of 61 in a season, set in 1961 by Yankees outfielder Roger Maris.

On Monday, Judge hit his 54th homer on the season for the AL-East leading Yankees, meaning he needs just seven to tie and eight to surpass Maris’ 61-year-old record.

The achievement would certainly help Judge’s AL MVP case and his bid for a new contract. The four-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger is set to become a free agent after the 2022 season.

Judge also set a personal best of 54 homers, surpassing the 52 he achieved in 2017 en route to being crowned AL Rookie of the Year.

Here’s the latest from Judge.

Most recent home run: Judge hit his 54th homer Monday in the Yankees’ 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins. Judge is batting .302 with 117 RBIs.

Current pace: 65 (would tie for fourth-most in MLB history)

Games remaining: 27

Next game: The Yankees continue a four-game series against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday. 

FOX Sports’ take: “Judge’s homers have often come in clusters this year, and everything might hinge on if he can time a run at just the right moment. We know this much: Judge is going to get more focused the nearer he comes to the target. He’s going to get paid handsomely, too, and probably by the Yankees, at season’s end. And he’s going to be the AL MVP ahead of Shohei Ohtani, if he keeps going anything like he has.” — Martin Rogers

Contract status: Judge and the Yankees were unsuccessful in negotiating a long-term contract prior to the start of the 2022 season. The All-Star reportedly rejected a seven-year, $213.5 million extension in spring training, and the two parties avoided arbitration in June with a $19 million deal for 2022.

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