The 2022 home run race ended with Aaron Judge (31, New York Yankees), the ‘clean home run king’. Which player will be the home run king in the 2023 season? Five candidates were mentioned.

On the 20th (Korean time), MLB.com, the official website of the Major League, announced the five candidates who will occupy the highest spot in the home run category in the 2023 season.

Last year’s home run king Judge, Mike Trout (32), Ohtani Shohei (29), Jordan Alvarez (26), and Pete Alonso (29) were nominated. Four in the American League and one in the National League.

First of all, Judge, 먹튀검증the most likely candidate, recorded 60 home runs in a season for the first time in 61 years as a clean hitter with 62 home runs last year, surpassing Roger Maris’ 61 home runs.

However, MLB.com noted that no one since Jose Batista in 2010 and 2011 has been the home run champion for two consecutive years.

Also, Judge is a player with relatively frequent injuries. Excluding the shortened season from 2017, when he became the Rookie of the Year, he has played in more than 150 games only twice in a total of five seasons.

It’s clear that Judge is the player closest to becoming the home run king two years in a row if he stays healthy and plays in 150 or more games. But Judge is not a very healthy type of player.

Other candidates include Trout and Ohtani, who lead the Los Angeles Angels lineup. Trout hit 40 home runs last year despite playing in only 119 games due to an injury.

This is the 4th time to reach 40 home runs among players who played in less than 120 games. Trout has a strong image as an all-around player rather than a home run hitter, but he achieved 40 homers three times in one season.

In order for Trout to become the first home run king in his personal career, it is essential to maintain a healthy physical condition above all else. Trout hasn’t played in 150 games since 2016.

In addition, Ohtani has already proven his ability to become the home run king at any time with 46 homers in the 2021 season. Last year, he hit 34 home runs.

For Ohtani, who doubles as a pitcher, the important thing is to balance his stamina and strike out a lot. Ohtani also struck out 189 batters in 2021, when he hit 46 home runs.

Although he has never hit 40 home runs in a season, Alvarez’s power is also at a level where there is nothing strange about becoming the home run king.

Also, Alvarez’s home runs are on the rise, with 27 in 2019, 33 in 2021 and 37 last year. Therefore, it is not surprising if the number of home runs in the 2023 season soars.

Alonso, the only player in the National League who was mentioned as a candidate for the home run king, had already risen to the top spot with 53 homers in the 2019 season when he was a rookie.

Excluding Judge, he has the highest home run peak among the four players. He is evaluated as a player who can become the home run king at any time.

Of course, the 2023 season is still open and there are too many variables. There could be a surprise home run king like Salvador Perez in 2021 or Mark Trumbo in 2016.