The 2024 Yankees, according to plan: Soto, Judge and Stanton all go yard in same game
NEW YORK – Juan Soto, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton did something unique as Yankees on Wednesday night.
For the first time, that power trio connected in the same game as Yankees teammates, collectively blasting home runs against right-handed Houston Astros rookie starter Spencer Arrighetti.
Those home runs totaled an estimated 1,291 feet, or 430.33 feet per drive at Yankee Stadium, sending the Yankees toward a 9-4 victory before 37,660 fans.
To put that total home run distance in a famed New York frame, it is 41 feet longer than the Empire State Building’s 1,250-foot, 102-story length, minus the spire.
“We all know how capable we are,’’ Soto said of the lineup’s potential for damage. “It’s not going to be easy every night, but we’re capable of that and more.’’
Soto began the onslaught with his team-leading ninth homer of the year, a two-run shot to left-center field in the first inning, estimated to have traveled 440 feet.
"When I’m hitting the ball that way, I’m in my best (swing) path,'' said Soto, who went 3-for-5 with a season-high five RBI. "I just feel that I’m locked in.''
Judge opened the third inning with a 404-foot shot to right-center field, his eighth homer of the year, coming off a first-pitch fastball.
Two batters later, Stanton destroyed a 1-2 curveball to left measured at 447 feet and 119.9 mph off the bat, exceeding Stanton’s mammoth drive from Tuesday night.
According to MLB Statcast, Stanton's eighth homer of the year Wednesday was the hardest base hit – let alone homer – by any MLB player this season.
"Being weird again,'' manager Aaron Boone said of Stanton's uniqueness, unable to conjure any further adjectives to describe the slugger's latest laser shot. "Hashtag Weird.''
In a 10-3 Yankees win, Tuesday, Stanton slammed a solo homer off Justin Verlander estimated to have rocketed at 118.8 mph off the bat.
According to MLB.com, in the Statcast era (since 2015), Stanton has registered three of the five hardest hit home runs, with Wednesday night's shot coming in at No. 5.
Judge and the Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr. have the other two homers in that top five ranking.
“(Stanton) outdid himself again tonight. Impressive,’’ said Judge, who went 3-for-5 with two doubles, and is batting .500 (9-for-18) over his last five games.
Through the first six weeks of the season, Judge sees the slimmer Stanton “staying through the ball well, using the whole field,’’ and sometimes leaving it; Wednesday’s homer was a pure bullet.
“It’s been fun to watch him do this thing this year. Especially trying to bounce back after last year,’’ Judge said of Stanton, coming off his least productive offensive season in 2023.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees see Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton hit home runs
