If you have been paying any attention to MLB, Aaron Judge is having another career season in the Bronx. While he may not be on pace to surpass his 62 from 2022, he is poised for a third career 50+ home run season. Such a feat would place him among just four others to ever play the game (Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, Babe Ruth and A-Rod). Judge is already at 103 RBIs as well. He leads the league in OPS (1.156) and is the strongest force behind the Yankees divisional race is the Orioles. Judge and teammate Juan Soto are said to be the most productive Yankees duo in a single season since Gerhig and Ruth.
Over in Kansas City, Bobby Witt Jr.is hotter than the back-to-back Super Bowl Champion Chiefs. He leads MLB in hits (155), runs (94) and batting average (.344). Witt also has 24 stolen bases and 20 home runs. He stands to join another elite club should he get to 30-30. Witt is coming off one of the most productive July’s in the history of the game. This included a .489 BA and 16 plus extra base hits, placing him in elite company with fellow Royal, George Brett in 1980. Brett is also the only Royal to ever win the AL MVP. Also included in that .480+ BA and 16+ extra base hit club are Hall of Famers Rogers Hornsby (1923), Tris Speaker (1923) and Ty Cobb (1911 & 1922). Witt has kept the Royals in the thick of the AL Wild Card race all season long.
Who Do You Pick?
This side-by-side comparison from Fox Sports put this race into perspective and has moved it (arguably) to a true toss-up.
With less than two months left in the season, the race for AL MVP is in a dead heat. At this point, both players personify the definition of Most Valuable Player. Under normal circumstance, Gunnar Henderson would also be right in the thick of this talk, but it’s looking more like a two man race.
While the glitz and glamour of the New York Yankees will likely entice baseball writers to favor Judge, it’s hard not to root for the second generation youngster from Middle America. Whichever way it comes down, both MLB superstars will hopefully continue to dazzle crowds all the way into October.
