Records Are Meant to be Broken
Last year, the Yankees shattered the MLB all time Home Run record for a team with 267 bombs, eclipsing the 21 year old record of 264 set by the Seattle Mariners in 1997. Aaron Judge doesn’t seem to think the record will take long to be broken again.
“You get this whole team healthy, we’re going to crush the record that we set last year,” Judge said confidently to Coley Harvey of ESPN. “We’ve got a good team, a lot of guys that could make a lot of solid contact, and a lot of big boys that when they make contact, man, it goes. We’re a team that’s primed and ready to do that.”
The Scary part for the league is that it’s possible! In an injury plagued-season, the Yankees star only played 112 games, missing time with a broken wrist. Gary Sanchez had groin injuries, Greg Bird missed games, as did many others and the record was still broken! Last seen healthy for a full season, Judge hit 52 home runs breaking Mark McGwire’s rookie record of 49.
With Didi Gregorius possibly missing the upcoming season due to Tommy John surgery, the Yankees surely will miss his 27 home runs from last year. Troy Tulowitzki has shown power, hitting home runs in early spring training games serving as his replacement at shortstop.
Then there’s the second tower in the Yankees lineup. In what appeared to be a “down year” for Giancarlos Stanton (only hitting 38 home runs after previously hitting 59 the year before) the star will be more comfortable in his role with the team. After Judge went down due to injury, Stanton did not shy away from the moment. After struggling and being booed early in his Yankees career, his bat, massive swing power and leadership were a major reason the Yankees were in position to win the AL East for the majority of the year.
Rookie standouts Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar hit 24 and 27 home runs respectively and are always a threat wherever placed in the lineup. Not much needs to be said when Gary Sanchez unleashes the Kraken and has his swing going. Aaron Hicks had a career year, hitting 27 homers. Luke Voit stepped in powerfully late last year and hit 14 big ones in a 39-game stretch adding muscle to the team. Voit has hit well in spring training, so far hitting multiple homers while competing against Greg Bird for the first base job. When healthy, Bird’s position as a lefty in the lineup is another problem pitchers need to face.
Whether it’s in the Bronx or in an opponent’s home stadium, the Yankees are bringing the big guns to every game this season and pitchers around the league better be on notice. The Bombers are coming.
