The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Many Yankees within reach of major milestones
Major milestones are within reach for the Yankees’ biggest stars.
Huge seasons by Aaron Judge and Juan Soto in 2024 would propel the standout sluggers into new home run echelons, while Gerrit Cole and Anthony Rizzo need only modest outputs to reach round statistical numbers.
Giancarlo Stanton, meanwhile, is poised to ascend up the all-time home run list, so long as he can stay healthy.
Here are the Yankees who could make history in 2024.
Aaron Judge
The two-time American League home run champ is 43 home runs away from 300 for his career.
Judge cruised past that total in two of the three seasons he played at least 148 games, including in 2022, when his 62 homers set the AL’s single-season record.
The powerful Yankees captain still managed 37 home runs last season, despite hip and toe injuries limiting him to 106 games.
Judge enters the season 10th all time on the Yankees home run list and could pass multiple household names in the coming months. His 257 home runs put him three behind Derek Jeter, 18 behind Jorge Posada and 30 behind Bernie Williams.
Juan Soto
It would take a careerbest effort, but 40 home runs in 2024 would put the
25-year-old Soto at 200 through his first seven seasons.
Soto hit a career-high 35 homers last season with the San Diego Padres, but there are reasons to believe he can pass that number this year.
Soto is expected to primarily bat second, rather than third as he did last year, which would mean more plate appearances over the course of the season. He’s also batting in front of Judge, providing the ultimate protection and, therefore, more pitches to hit.
And while Soto the leftyswinging is known
for his opposite-field power, Yankee Stadium’s inviting short porch in right field could still lead to a few extra dingers.
For what it’s worth, Soto hit three home runs in his first seven at-bats of spring training — one to each field.
Anthony Rizzo
Rizzo should get the first crack at a milestone, as he begins the year five home runs shy of 300.
The ultra-consistent Rizzo boasts four seasons with 32 home runs and another with 31.
Returning from the concussion symptoms that
ended his 2023 season early, Rizzo says he feels great — and he looks great at the plate this spring, too.
His two-homer effort on March 1 offered a reminder of Rizzo’s powerful potential, and he should benefit from on-base machines Soto and Judge directly in front of him.
Only 159 MLB players have hit 300 home runs. Former Yankees outfielder Andrew McCutchen should reach the milestone soon with the Pittsburgh Pirates, as he begins the year at 299.
Giancarlo Stanton
With the offseason retirement of Miguel Cabrera, the 34-year-old Stanton became MLB’s active home run leader with 402.
Stanton hopes a leaner frame will help him stay healthy after an uneven 2023, though the two-time National League home run champ still slugged 24 home runs in 371 at-bats last year.
A 30-homer season would move Stanton into sole possession of 50th place on the all-time home run list — and ahead of Duke Snider, Mark Teixeira, Alfonso Soriano, Mike Piazza and Cal Ripken Jr.
Stanton hit at least 30 home runs in seven of his first 14 seasons, most recently in 2022.
Gerrit Cole
Fresh off his first Cy Young Award, the 33-yearold Cole enters 2024 five wins away from 150 for his career.
Wins don’t mean as much in today’s era of analytics and deep bullpens, but the workhouse Cole is a throwback who led the AL with 209 innings last year — his sixth season with at least 200.
Cole would become the 266th pitcher to reach 150 wins — a list he should continue to shoot up. If he matched last year’s 15 wins, Cole would end the season tied for 232nd place.
Perhaps more representative of his success, Cole ranks fifth among active pitchers in wins, behind only Justin Verlander, Zack Greinke, Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw. Greinke, a 39-year-old free agent, could slide off that list if he fails to find a job.