It wasn’t the longest home run of Aaron Judge’s illustrious career, but it sure felt monumental as it lit up Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday night. The New York Yankees’ star slugger unleashed a titanic blast in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals that soared 469 feet, almost clearing the Hall of Fame wall in left field.
With that powerful swing, Judge quickly put the Yankees up 2-0, strutting around the bases as if it was merely a stroll in the park. While he’s known for jaw-dropping power, Tuesday’s shot stood out—it marked the sixth-farthest home run hit at Kauffman Stadium since tracking began nearly a decade ago, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
This home run was not just another notch on Judge’s impressive belt; it was the seventh-longest of his career and his 12th homer hit at least 465 feet, a testament to his astonishing capability at the plate. The only longer home run in Judge’s career came in 2017 against the Toronto Blue Jays, when he sent one soaring 496 feet, which remains tied for the fifth-longest in the Statcast Era, a metric that has been tracking such achievements since 2015.
Interestingly, Judge’s blast on Tuesday also ranks as the third-longest homer launched across Major League Baseball this season. The only two homers that bested it came from Mike Trout, who hit a 484-foot shot, and Logan O’Hoppe, with his 470-foot bomb.
Entering this matchup, Judge was already leading the league with a staggering .396 batting average and an incredible 1.264 OPS. His home run on Tuesday marked his 24th of the season, putting him just behind Seattle Mariners slugger Cal Raleigh. Additionally, Judge boasts the highest hit total in MLB with 97, two of which came during this particular game.
The Yankees had a comfortable 9-0 lead when chaos ensued in the seventh inning. Third baseman Jazz Chisholm exited after a strikeout but not before a brief exchange with Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia following Chisholm’s successful theft of third base. The Yankees later announced that Chisholm was dealing with “neck tightness,” though details are still limited on his condition.
Judge’s explosive home run set the tone for what turned into a decisive blowout win for the Yankees, who eased to a 10-2 victory over the Royals, marking a strong start to the three-game series. Alongside Judge’s feats, rookie Austin Wells contributed with a three-run homer in the fourth inning. As it stands, the Yankees improved their record to 40-25, while the Royals, facing their fourth loss in six games, dropped to 34-33, placing them third in the AL Central standings.
With performances like these, the Yankees are not just making noise—they’re sending a clear message to the rest of the league that they mean business this season.
