How Aaron Judge can break personal 62-HR record for Yankees in 2026

The New York Yankees are sitting atop the entire American League East, AL as a whole, and all of Major League Baseball this season with a 26-12 record.

Through 38 games, the Yankees have dominated their opponents, and it's thanks to a combination of elite pitching and the dominance of their offense, led by two players: Ben Rice and Aaron Judge.

Of the two, Judge has been on a tear this season and has 15 home runs through 38 games. And with such a hot start, it's fair to wonder if he can reach 60-plus home runs this season. CBS Sports Matt Snyder shared his take on this question with some hope.

"I'm inclined to say it won't happen, but, man, Judge being up there with this kind of pace gives me pause," Snyder writes. "In addition to having already gotten to 60, meaning he won't feel the kind of public pressure this time around, he's also got a season with 58 and two more 50-plus seasons on his resume."

Judge has started the year off incredibly hot, and has a real chance to break his 62-home-run record he set a few years ago. And it's a fairly simple path: all Judge has to do is keep hitting as he has this year, and the record should be his.

Aaron Judge has simple path to record-breaking HR season again

With 15 home runs in 38 games played, Judge is on pace for 63 homers this season. If he can maintain this pace, he will be able to break his record.

While Judge maintaining this pace is very possible, he also has a chance to pick up the pace even more. He's capable of going on a heater and could easily raise this pace a few notches.

Judge is a rare hitter with elite power. He has hit 383 homers in his career, with 400 very much in sight this season.

MORE: Aaron Judge makes baseball history never done before by Yankees player

For comparison's sake, during his record-breaking 2022 season, Judge hit 15 home runs in his first 38 games, the same pace he's on now. Then over his next 62 games through the end of July, Judge had 27 homers for 42 heading into the final two months of the season.

Then in August, he hit nine homers, not a bad number, but also a little slower pace than he was on before. He rounded out October with 10 more homers and got his 62nd and final home run on the last day of the season.

Judge needs to avoid significant cold stretches this season, and he then could have a chance at the record. It's easier said than done, but Judge can do it.

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