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Raleigh Chases Judge's AL Home Run Record as Playoff Rivals Clash
26 Aug
Summary
- Seattle's Cal Raleigh leads MLB with 50 homers, challenging Aaron Judge's 62-HR AL record
- Judge says he's "not pulling for anyone" to break his record as Yankees fight for playoffs
- Judge continues to DH as he recovers from elbow injury, with return to outfield unclear
As of August 26th, 2025, Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh has emerged as a leading contender for the American League MVP award, having extended his major league-leading home run total to 50. This impressive feat comes just three years after Yankees slugger Aaron Judge set the franchise and AL record with 62 homers in 2022.
While Judge acknowledges Raleigh's impressive season, he made it clear that his priority is on the Yankees' own playoff push, not on anyone else's pursuit of his home run record. "Cal Raleigh is a great guy and a great ambassador for the game," Judge said. "I love watching him do his thing." However, he added, "We're in a fight for the wild card and the division. I'm not pulling for anyone to do anything that's not the Yankees."
The Yankees continue to manage Judge's recovery from an elbow flexor strain, with the star player serving as the designated hitter while his return to the outfield remains unclear. The team has been cautious in activating reliever Fernando Cruz, opting to keep pitcher Paul Blackburn on the roster as insurance for their rotation.
As the regular season winds down, the Mariners and Yankees find themselves in a tight race for the second AL wild card spot, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown between the two MVP candidates and their playoff-contending teams.
