Inside Aaron Judge’s whirlwind year, from wedding to home run history
Aaron Judge is having himself the year of a lifetime, both on and off the field.
The Yankees slugger rang in 2022 in an additional role — as a husband — after tying the knot with his longtime girlfriend Samantha Bracksieck in December. And on Tuesday, he became the American League single-season home run record-holder after hitting his 62nd homer.
The couple’s nuptials took place in Hawaii during an intimate outdoor ceremony at the Montage Kapalua Bay resort. The fairly private pair was first fueled by engagement rumors in June 2021, when Bracksieck was photographed wearing a diamond ring.
Despite MLB’s offensive plummet and the Yankees’ ups and downs this season, the 30-year-old Judge has remained a powerhouse at the plate. His incredible pace has not only sealed his place in home run history, but he has the chance to potentially win the AL Triple Crown.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone explained how Judge has mastered things as a veteran that were once a challenge for him.
“I think one of the things he’s gone to another level at is knowing how to physically prepare and withstand the grind of the season,” Boone said recently. “That’s one of the big things in his continued development as a veteran, superstar player. He understands what he needs to do to be ready and sometimes, on certain days, especially when you’re deep in the season in the grind of the season, a lot of times that’s less.
Everything to know about Aaron Judge and his chase for the home run record:
- Aaron Judge hits 62nd home run to break Roger Maris’ record
- Listen to Michael Kay and John Sterling call Aaron Judge’s 62nd home run
- Aaron Judge’s parents celebrate his historic 62nd home run
- All of Aaron Judge’s home runs this season
“That sometimes has been the challenge for him in the past, to do less. He’s gotten really good at that. I think that’s gone a long way in keeping him as fresh and as strong as he’s been all year.”
Judge’s MVP-level season came after the free-agent-to-be and the Yankees could not reach an agreement on a contract extension before Opening Day. GM Brian Cashman said the club offered the outfielder a seven-year, $213.5 million contract. Judge seems certain to surpass that $30.5 million average annual salary after his historic season.
“We know his worth and what he means,” Yankees president Randy Levine said on “The Show” podcast with The Post’s Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman earlier this month. “I don’t know what’s in his mind. All we can do is show him how much we’d like him to remain a Yankee.”
Since they said “I do,” Judge and Bracksieck, 29, have stepped out together on a number of occasions.
The Post captured Bracksieck and Judge in an intimate moment after he hit his 60th home run on Sept. 20 against the Pirates.
Earlier this month, the couple attended the U.S. Open hours after he recorded his 54th home run of the season in the Yankees’ 5-2 win over the Twins.
In April, Judge and Bracksieck showed off some rare PDA at Judge’s 30th birthday party.
Judge and Bracksieck reportedly made their relationship Instagram official in October 2019. They originally dated during their high school days in Linden, Calif., but have long been private about their relationship.
Bracksieck has been by Judge’s side throughout his rise to superstardom in New York, and their relationship seems get to get stronger with each season.
