Two years ago, Aaron Judge was chasing Roger Maris for the American League home run record of 61 what many consider to be the true MLB home run record set in 1961. This season, Judge is on a similar pace, but instead of Maris milestone, hes going after his own mark of 62 home runs. Judge has 32 homers through 89 games one ahead of his 2022 pace after an 0-for-4 Thursday in the Yankees 8-4 lo s to the Reds. Aaron Judge celebrates a homer in June. Jason Szenes / New York Post Hes , but that includes the first month of the year when Judge slumped and had just four homers in the Yankees first 27 games. Its a big David Villar Jersey deal chasing that [number] because of the history of all the guys before me that had it, Judge said prior to the game in The Bronx. But Im not too concerned about it. Ive got a lot of other things I want to check off my list before I think about breaking another record. If it happens, it happens, great. Explore More And as Judge made clear when he was on his historic pace in 22, he is among those that considers Barry Bonds MLB record of 73 home runs in 2001 to be legitimate, despite the PED controversy surrounding it, saying at the time, Thats what I go by. I watched [Bonds] as a kid flip the ball into the bay with ease. That hasnt changed. With 26 homers in his last 52 games, Judge continues to draw comparisons to Bonds, with manager Aaron Boone saying Wednesday he wouldnt be surprised to see Judge get with opposing teams frequently pitching around him. Aaron Judge believes Barry Bond is MLBs home run king, despite the PED allegations. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con Asked Thursday about the po sibility of trying to catch Bonds, Judge said: I dont think anybodys gonna break that. Thats a tough one. Any time you get up into the 50s and 60s [in homers], people start pitching you differently. They dont give you as many opportunities to hit. Like with Bonds that year, he would get like one pitch to hit in a series, and hed hit it out. I dont think well ever see that again. Judge got a small dose of that treatment in the latter part of 22, when he was walked intentionally eight times in his first 121 games, a number that increased to 11 times over his final 36 games. Thats still well below the 35 free pa ses Bonds got in 03 and just a fraction of the record-setting 120 intentional walks Bonds received in 2007. Aaron Judge homers against the Reds on July 2. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST I havent seen teams pitch me like they did to him, Judge said of Bonds. I hope it doesnt happen. Judges surge at the plate hasnt coincided with team succe s, as the Yankees , falling from first place in the majors and AL East in the proce s. The contrast wasnt lost on Judges personal hitting coach, Richard Schenck, after the lo s to Cincinnati. Theyve lost 13 out of [17] while hes hitting like an MVP, , which ostensibly referred to Judge. The Yankees offensive player development is terrible. Nicholas Sinacola Jersey