Yankees star Aaron Judge is only 7 homers away from tying Maris' AL record, while Pujols is 5 HRs away from 700. Red Sox give Hernandez $10M extension deal, Red Sox Xander Bogaerts leads AL in batting, and more baseball news.
Aaron Judge homers in third straight game, season total at 54
Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is now only 7 homers away from tying Roger Maris' franchise and American League single-season record of 61 home runs, set in 1961. Judge has slammed a home run in each of his last three consecutive games and now has a season total of 54, CBSSports reported.
MLB home run record
Maris' single-season home run record of 61 also stood as the Major League Baseball single-season record until 1998, topped by Mark McGuire with 70 and surpassed again in 2001 by Barry Bonds with 73. However, both players were alleged to have used performance-enhancing drugs in doing so.
Albert Pujols edging closer to 700 home runs
St. Louis Cardinals first baseman/designated hitter Albert Pujols is destined to go down as one of the greatest batters of all time as he nears the end of his incredible career. Against the Cubs on Sunday night, Pujols launched another pitch out of the park for career homer No. 695, ESPN reported.
Pujols is now only 5 home runs away from becoming just the fourth player in major league baseball history to join the "700 club." The members of this elite home run fraternity include Babe Ruth (714), Hank Aaron (755), and Barry Bonds (762).
Pujols is one home run away from tying Alex Rodriguez for the 4th all-time HR slot at 696.
Red Sox reach $10M, 1-year extension with Enrique Hernandez
The Boston Red Sox and outfielder/utility player Enrique Hernandez, nicknamed Kike (KEE-kay), have reached a one-year contract extension on Tuesday worth a reported $10 million, ESPN reported. Hernandez was due to hit free agency this winter when his two-year $14 million contract was set to expire.
Although Hernandez was sidelined for over two months this season with a hip flexor injury, it shows Boston still has confidence in Hernandez despite his struggles this year.
Hernandez is currently batting .219 with a .637 OPS and only six home runs in over 300 at-bats.
Red Sox Xander Bogaerts leads A.L. in batting
Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts had a two-hit performance on Monday against the Tampa Bay Rays that now has put him atop the batting leaders in the American League, with an average of .317, NESN reported. Despite Bogey's batting, Boston still lost 4-3, after a 3-2 lead in the seventh inning.