Is surging Aaron Judge a threat to break two longstanding hitting records?

Ichiro Suzuki's season hit record

In 2004 with the Seattle Mariners, Suzuki set the big-league record for hits in a season with 262. In 2025, Judge could be the first in a long time to threaten Suzuki's mark. The only other 21st-century players to record 240 or more hits in a season were Darin Erstad (240) of the Angels in 2000 and Suzuki in 2001.

In his record-setting season, Suzuki had 68 hits through 46 games, three fewer than Judge after the same span. Suzuki turned it on in 2004 from mid-July to the end of the season. From July 17 to Sept. 3 that season, he hit .433, notching 141 hits and averaging 1.91 hits a game. 

This year, Judge's pace (1.54 hits per game) doesn't match Suzuki's 2004 second half. Suzuki finished his record season hitting .372, but through game 46, his average was only .329. If Judge — whose career high for hits in a season is 180 in 2024 — can maintain anywhere even close to his current .401 average, the record might be in play. 

Barry Bonds' season home run record

In 2001 with the San Francisco Giants, Bonds became the second player to reach 70 home runs, launching 73. Since 2001, 12 different players have hit 50 home runs in a season, but only one has surpassed 60, Judge, who smashed an AL-record 62 in 2022.

That season, Judge had 18 home runs while Bonds already had 26 in 2001. Bonds' home run percentage during his record-breaking season was off the charts (11%).  

In the past three seasons, Judge's home run percentage is a little more than eight percent. This season is his lowest HR percentage  (7.1) since 2021, but he's still leading the league in home runs. 

Judge has the ability to turn it on and smack six or seven home runs in a week, so although his current home run pace is below Bonds' record pace, the Yankees' slugger could position himself within striking distance with a hot streak.

The verdict

Judge is stacking the hits more than anyone else since Suzuki set the record for hits in a season. He is an already proven power hitter, reaching 50 on three occasions, so he has the skill to top these two records. 

In their record-setting seasons, Suzuki (one) and Bonds (nine) each missed fewer than 10 games; Judge, who missed only four regular-season games last season, has not missed a game in 2025. 

If Judge can stay injury-free, avoid slumps and walks, he could break both records. Of course, that's a lot to ask from any player, even one as good as Judge, a six-time All-Star. 

But even if Judge doesn't break either record, he's on pace for one of the best seasons in MLB history. When his career is over, he may be considered, as Stark suggests, one of the greatest right-handed hitters of all time.