Aaron Judge has gone and done it again. The New York Yankees’ legend-in-the-making has etched his name alongside baseball legends with a performance for the ages on Wednesday night. In a resounding 4-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins, Judge didn’t just hit the ball—he launched it into another stratosphere—racking up four extra-base hits, a home run, and three doubles; it’s a feat that has not been seen in pinstripes since the Babe Ruth era.

This record-shattering performance, the 28th such instance to take place in Bombers’ history, places Judge in an exclusive club alongside Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, and, of course—the Sultan of Swat himself—Babe Ruth. It was the second time in his career that Judgey achieved this rare milestone, having previously done so in September against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Aaron Judge’s colossal 467-foot home run off Pablo Lopez in the first inning perfectly set the tone for the night. Not just the distance, but the raw power behind the 113-mph exit velo itself that sent the ball soaring into the upper deck of Target Field left spectators gaping in awe. As usual, the captain didn’t take much time to follow this up with a barrage of doubles, driving in two crucial runs.

This isn’t a sudden burst of brilliance; Judge has been on a tear. In his last 17 games, the slugger boasts an impressive .460 batting average, clinching seven homers and 16 RBIs. Highlighted by a .317/.451/.707 slash line in the first twelve games of May, his recent performance has directly propelled him to the top of the league’s leaderboards.

This historical night further solidifies the All-Rise’s legacy as one of the game’s perennial greats. As MLB’s Sarah Langs has noted, “Most games with 4+ extra-base hits, Yankees history: Lou Gehrig: 5, Joe DiMaggio: 5, Aaron Judge: 2, Babe Ruth: 2.” That’s a collector’s list, speaking volumes about Judgey’s impact and talent. Though it’d be wise to remember that his heroics were just a part of a dominant Yankees performance.

Aaron Judge’s hot streak propels Yankees to top of AL East

On the mound, Marcus Stroman delivered a masterful six scoreless innings, allowing just two hits, while Luke Weaver and Caleb Ferguson shut down the Twins’ offense in the later innings. The Bombers’ offense was firing on all cylinders, with everyone but Anthony Rizzo contributing at least one hit.

The win has now pushed the Yankees’ record to an impressive 29-15, further solidifying their position atop the American League East, with half a game ahead of the Baltimore Orioles. This victory also extended their historic dominance over the Twins, boasting a 119-44 record in their last 163 meetings.

Before Wednesday’s game, Aaron Judge had been slashing .236/.370/.490 with ten home runs and two stolen bases. His contributions had already been worth an estimated 1.5 WAR.

The All-Rise has not only cemented his place in Yankees lore with this standout performance, but he has also reaffirmed his status as one of the most electrifying hitters in baseball today. As the Bombers gear up for their next game on Thursday afternoon, with Clarke Schmidt taking the mound against Joe Ryan, all eyes will be on the beloved Captain to see if he can continue his extraordinary slashing streak.