Not only is Aaron Judge a lock to pass Roger Maris’ American League record of 61 home runs before the MLB season concludes, but it’s starting to look like he has a real shot to win the triple crown, as well.
After belting his 60th home run in the bottom of the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night, Judge now leads the American League in all three triple crown categories (average, home runs, and RBIs).
Judge is an odds-on betting favorite to take home the triple crown this season.
Aaron Judge Triple Crown Odds:
For the first time since DraftKings started their special on Judge to complete the triple crown, he’s favored to do so.
As it stands, the Yankees slugger is -115 to complete the achievement, -105 not to win.
The only real obstacle in Judge’s triple crown chase is in the batting average department. With his 60 home runs and 128 RBIs, he should have those locked up. But it’s a bit of a cluster at the top of the American League batting average leaderboard.
Judge has the top spot for now, but Minnesota Twins’ Luis Arraez and Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts are lurking right behind.
Check out the current AL batting title race:
- Aaron Judge, Yankees: .316
- Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox: .315
- Luis Arreaz, Twins: .314
- José Abreu, White Sox: .308
- Nate Lowe, Rangers: .306
The last time we saw a triple crown in the MLB was when future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera accomplished the feat in his dominant 2012 season.
Since Joe Medick won the triple crown as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1937, the past six triple crown winners have come from the American League: Ted Williams in 1942 and 1947, Mickey Mantle in 1956, Frank Robinson in 1966, Carl Yastrzemski in 1967, and Cabrera in 2012.
Last season, we had Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guererro Jr. on triple crown watch, but he ended up finishing second in the AL in average and fifth in RBIs.
Judge is wrapping up one of (if not the best) offensive seasons we’ve ever seen in MLB history, and at this point, all we can do is sit back and marvel at the ridiculous accomplishments.
