The season is just getting interesting! Aaron Judge isn’t the only one hitting home runs. A breakout power threat has appeared, and his thundering swing brings to mind a Barry Bonds-level spark. All of a sudden, it’s not just Judge’s stage anymore. And with that, the race for MVP just got a new twist. If you’re thinking it’s Shohei Ohtani, nope!

This 28-year-old is on fire—he hit a home run in his fourth consecutive game, this time in the ninth inning to win 11-2. He has never hit four home runs in a row before, which is already a rare achievement that puts him in elite company. Does it ring a bell?

Cal Raleigh, the Seattle Mariners’ switch-hitting catcher, is that powerhouse.  According to official stats, Raleigh has hit 32 home runs, driven in 68 runs, and has a mind-boggling 1.049 OPS in only 77 games. Now he is at the top, surpassing the Yankees captain. Not only that, but recently, Fox Sports: MLB shared an interesting comparison of Raleigh with none other than legendary Barry Bonds.

Bonds hit 39 home runs and drove in 79 runs in 77 games in 2001, with a 1.360 OPS. That Raleigh could make that connection isn’t just high praise; it shows that the baseball world is taking notice. These stats aren’t simply outstanding; they’re huge. And yes, the similarities to Bonds are striking. Bonds and Luis Gonzalez are the only two players to hit more than 30 home runs in their team’s first 75 games. And now that Raleigh has done it, too. It’s an achievement in itself.

He was named the AL Player of the Week following a tough series against Chicago. He has a 191 wRC+ and a 5.1 fWAR through 75 games, which is MVP-level performance for a catcher. And his teammate Rodriguez echoed this sentiment, “he just definitely deserves his first shot at the MVP.” 

On the other hand, Judge is doing great with 28 home runs, 62 RBIs, and a scorching .367/.468/.734 line. This gives him a 1.202 OPS and puts him in first position in the American League in both batting average and OPS. It would be a remarkable tale of two titans putting up great numbers for the MVP.

Raleigh may have outshone Judge in the home run list. However, Judge just reached a milestone with his 28th homer of this season.

First-inning force: Aaron Judge draws historic parallels to McGwire

Aaron Judge was the one bright spot for the Yankees. On July 23, against the Cincinnati Reds, his towering solo home run in the first inning was not only his 28th homer. But with that, he also tied Mark McGwire‘s record for 11 first-inning home runs in a team’s first 78 games.

Judge has hit 28 home runs so far, 39% of which came in the first inning. He continues to dominate early frames and is the key player the Yankees rely on. That stroke could be the first step in getting out of his doldrums.

Yes, the Yankees lost to the Reds 6-1. And the only run from their bats was from Judge. He has been having a tough time lately. Remember, he hit just 6-for-30 with 16 strikeouts in nine games in June, which was a significant drop from how he had been doing all season. So, this home run wasn’t just a flash; it could be the boost he needs to turn things around.

Raleigh may have been in the news a lot lately, but Judge’s new record reminds everyone why he is still the star. The question now is if this home run can get his season going again and help the Yankees get back on track.