$360 million All-Star Slugger expected to hit 70 home runs by 2024.

With an American League record 62 home runs in 2022, New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge displayed incredible power. Is he going to be able to perform even better in 2024?

On March 26, Scott Allen and Neil Greenberg of the Washington Post released twelve audacious MLB predictions for the forthcoming season. It is predicted that Judge, a right-handed hitter, will smash 70 home runs this season.

“The New York Yankees slugger hit 37 home runs last year, the second-most by a player who appeared in 106 games or fewer, despite missing 56 games due to hip and toe injuries,” the statement read. Although only 13 of Judge’s 37 home runs in 2023 were to left field, compared with half of his AL-record 62 bombs in 2022, it’s possible that his toe injury hindered his ability to pull the ball.

Nevertheless, Judge’s power signs remained, and he will now bat behind Juan Soto. Judge’s fly-ball average increased in 2023 compared to 2022, although his home run to fly-ball ratio remained almost the same at 18%.

Just before he was eligible for free agency, Judge ran a record-breaking 2022 campaign. The outfielder signed a nine-year, $360 million contract to stay with the Bombers in December 2022 as a result of his performance, which earned him the AL MVP Award.

What Are the Predictions for Aaron Judge’s Performance?

Greenberg and Allen offered arguments for each of their audacious predictions’ plausibility as well as reasons why it is unlikely. “Mark McGwire in 1998 and Barry Bonds in 2001, the only two players to hit over 70 home runs in a season, both acknowledged using performance-enhancing drugs during their careers,” they stated. “No one has hit more than 62 since MLB implemented a universal drug-testing policy in 2008.”

This argument’s justification also included Steamer forecasts from FanGraphs, which indicate he would hit 46 home runs by 2024. Nearly the similar level of power output is anticipated from Judge by all of the major projection systems. For the forthcoming campaign, ATC has decided on 44 home runs, while ZiPS is predicting 40.

Judge will continue to live with the toe injury he sustained during the 2023 season in addition to dealing with an abdominal issue earlier in spring training. Even though he will be up against certain obstacles, he has the skill and experience to challenge this figure. He smashed 57 home runs in his rookie season of 2017 and went on to smash 62 home runs in 2022.

Getting Together With Juan Soto Should Be a Lethal Duo

Before Opening Day, the Yankees’ roster depth has been put to the test. On the disabled list with ace pitcher Gerrit Cole are infielders Oswald Peraza and DJ LeMahieu.

But Juan Soto is one man who’s fit and eager to wreck mayhem. During spring training, Soto hit.304/.373/.630 in 51 plate appearances. Nine runs scored, 10 RBI, and seven extra-base hits (three doubles and four home runs) were included in this.

According to his forecasts, he will hit between 33 and 38 home runs in 2024. If everything goes as planned, Soto and Judge will also be strong candidates for the AL MVP Award. Only nine players are expected by ZiPS to have more than 5.0 fWAR this season. In this group, they are the only other pair of teammates. They both have 5.8-fWAR forecasts that are tied for second place in MLB, with Ronald Acuña Jr. (7.6) having the highest.