Aaron Judge sits atop Week 19 of our #HighFive List after becoming the fastest player in Major League history to reach 300 home runs. The Bronx Bro Bomber did it in just 955 games.
1. Aaron Judge
On last weeks #HighFive we discussed how teams were intentionally walking Aaron Judge on a nightly basis to avoid him doing damage. This time around, Judge was the one being disrespected, as the White Sox decided to give a free pass to fellow All-Star outfielder Juan Soto to take on Judge with two runners on; and he made them pay for it.
On a 3-0 count in the eighth inning, he hit his Major League leading 43rd homer of the season and the 300th of his career. He reached the benchmark in just 955 games, 132 faster than any player in history of the Majors. Over his last seven days Judge has a .480 batting average with two home runs, three doubles, six RBI and seven walks.
He currently has 110 RBI, which is on pace to be the most in his career, bettering the 131 runs he drove in from 2022.
2. Hunter Greene “Machine”
Hunter Greene’s National League Cy Young campaign is full steam ahead for the final six weeks.
He now finds his name amongst the top five for all Major League pitchers in ERA with a 2.83 following his seven innings of one run baseball in his start against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday. Greene struck out eight while only walking one and surrendering four hits.
Related: Hunter Greene Is A PopStar | His 104 MPH Heater Is About To Hit The Show | mlbbro.com
His lone run was given up via a home run by Nolan Arenado in the seventh. His .185 batting average against is the lowest in the National League and his 162 strikeouts tie him for fourth in the N.L.
Greene’s next start will be Monday when his Reds travel across the border to face George Springer and the Toronto Blue Jays.
3. Andrew “Cutch” McCutchen
Despite a tough stretch for his Pirates, Andrew McCutchen has done his part to keep their ship afloat by collecting hits in 10 of his last 11 games and slashing .348/.464/.739 with three home runs and eight runs batted over his last seven.
Two of the homers came in an extra inning loss to the Dodgers over the weekend, giving him 16 on the season. That leaves him only four away from his first 20 home runs season since he did it as a Philly in 2021 and the 10th time he reached the mark in his Hall of Fame worthy career.
Related: “He’s A Gamer”: Andrew McCutchen Returns To Pittsburgh Pirates Lineup Bro Bombing | mlbbro.com
This weekend McCutchen’s Pirates will host the American League Wildcard hopeful Seattle Mariners in what will be a make-or-break series for Pittsburgh’s playoff chances.
4. Simeon Woods-Richardson
Woods-Richardson threw a career-high seven innings allowing just two runs while issuing no walks and striking out seven in his start last Saturday against their American League Central rival Guardians.
He has been one of the better rookies in Major League Baseball this season, posting a 3.78 ERA through 102.1 innings in his 20 starts.
The stability he has given Minnesota by staying healthy has been a boost to a team that seems to always be dealing with the injury bug in their clubhouse: their latest victim being center fielder Byron Buxton who was placed on the 10-Day Injured List Thursday with a hip injury.
Woods-Richardson’s next start will be Friday night in his home state of Texas against the defending World Series Champion.
5. Devin Williams “The Airbender”
Devin Williams, the inaugural winner of the MLBbro.com “Bob Gibson Pitcher of The Year” award winner makes his first appearance on the #HighFive this season after a back injury sidelined him until late July.
Since then, he has only given up two hits and one earned run in his six appearances while striking out 10 and walking none. The highlight of his week came in his two scoreless and hitless outings against the N.L. West leading Dodgers.
Wednesday night he got out three former MVPs in a row, shutting down Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.
