'Incredibly dangerous men': These Yankees are a spectacle for fans to cherish

**WASHINGTON** — The convergence of two of the greatest hitters in baseball history in the same lineup is a rarity that might never be seen again.

Currently, the New York Yankees boast a lineup featuring Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, and Giancarlo Stanton as the Nos. 2-3-4 hitters, a combination that delivers a staggering array of statistics and entertainment. This alignment is not the start of a new era or the rise of an unstoppable force; instead, it is a fleeting moment of spectacle in a sport defined more by its grind than its glamour.

Witnessing Judge, a 6-foot-7 center fielder, and Stanton, a 6-foot-6 slugger, in the outfield together, and hitting consecutively in the lineup, has always been impressive. Since Stanton joined the Yankees in 2018, their presence has been a major draw, highlighting the Yankees' status as one of the biggest brands in North American sports.

The recent addition of Soto, acquired in a winter trade, further enhances this spectacle. Although Soto stands at 6-foot-2 and weighs 225 pounds, his production has been Hall of Fame-caliber since he was 19 and continues to impress at just 25.

This trio of Judge, Stanton, and Soto represents the Yankees' strongest chance at a championship since 2009 and poses a formidable challenge to opposing pitchers.

**Elevate the Performance**

Make no mistake: These Yankees are as susceptible to flaws as any team in a season lacking clear 100-game winners.

With a 78-56 record, they cling to a narrow one-game lead in the AL East over the Baltimore Orioles. The division race has been fiercely competitive, with the lead changing hands four times in the past two months, and it's expected to come down to the wire in September's final series at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees have shown a tendency to falter against weaker opponents, such as their recent series loss to Washington, where their power trio collectively managed just 4 hits in 34 at-bats.

Despite this, as manager Aaron Boone acknowledged after Wednesday's 5-2 loss, he remains confident in his team’s ability to deliver more often than not.

This confidence is bolstered by Judge’s performance, supported by Soto, which has been one of the most impressive offensive displays in baseball history.

Judge’s exceptional season took off after a slow start. From April 27 onward, he embarked on a remarkable 102-game stretch, hitting .375 with 47 home runs—an extraordinary run in major league history.

He has already hit 51 home runs through 134 games, on track to match his AL-record 62 homers from 2022. This season is arguably Judge's most complete: he leads the majors in OPS (1.198), on-base percentage (.467), slugging percentage (.731), and RBIs (123), and is second in batting average (.333), 22 points above his career high from 2022.

Judge has now joined Babe Ruth as the only players with three 50-homer seasons who are not notably linked to performance-enhancing drugs.