New York Yankees slugger Aaron Choose is dominating the large leagues. In 46 video games, the two-time MVP is batting .401 and getting on base in almost half his at-bats.
Coming into play Could 20, along with main the majors in batting common, Choose is the MLB leader in hits (71), on-base share (.490), slugging (.751), OPS (1.242), OPS+ (248) and WAR (3.7). Choose additionally leads the American League in house runs (15), RBI (41) and runs (43).
His off-the-charts numbers have The Athletic’s Jayson Stark, a veteran baseball writer, noting Choose’s case as the best right-handed hitter of recent occasions. Choose’s scorching begin has additionally led to the potential for him breaking two notable offensive information.
Ichiro Suzuki‘s season hit file
In 2004 with the Seattle Mariners, Suzuki set the big-league file for hits in a season with 262. In 2025, Choose might be the primary in a very long time to threaten Suzuki’s mark. The one different Twenty first-century gamers to record 240 or more hits in a season have been Darin Erstad (240) of the Angels in 2000 and Suzuki in 2001.
In his record-setting season, Suzuki had 68 hits by 46 games, three fewer than Choose after the identical span. Suzuki turned it on in 2004 from mid-July to the top of the season. From July 17 to Sept. 3 that season, he hit .433, notching 141 hits and averaging 1.91 hits a sport.
This yr, Choose’s tempo (1.54 hits per sport) does not match Suzuki’s 2004 second half. Suzuki completed his file season hitting .372, however by sport 46, his common was solely .329. If Choose — whose profession excessive for hits in a season is 180 in 2024 — can preserve wherever even near his present .401 common, the file may be in play.
Barry Bonds‘ season house run file
In 2001 with the San Francisco Giants, Bonds grew to become the second participant to succeed in 70 house runs, launching 73. Since 2001, 12 totally different gamers have hit 50 home runs in a season, however just one has surpassed 60, Choose, who smashed an AL-record 62 in 2022.
That season, Choose had 18 home runs whereas Bonds already had 26 in 2001. Bonds’ house run share throughout his record-breaking season was off the charts (11%).
Previously three seasons, Choose’s house run share is a bit more than eight %. This season is his lowest HR share (7.1) since 2021, however he is nonetheless main the league in house runs.
Choose has the flexibility to show it on and smack six or seven house runs in every week, so though his present house run tempo is beneath Bonds’ file tempo, the Yankees’ slugger may place himself inside hanging distance with a scorching streak.
The decision
Choose is stacking the hits greater than anybody else since Suzuki set the file for hits in a season. He’s an already confirmed energy hitter, reaching 50 on three events, so he has the talent to high these two information.
Of their record-setting seasons, Suzuki (one) and Bonds (9) every missed fewer than 10 video games; Choose, who missed solely 4 regular-season video games final season, has not missed a sport in 2025.
If Choose can keep injury-free, keep away from slumps and walks, he may break each information. In fact, that is so much to ask from any participant, even one pretty much as good as Choose, a six-time All-Star.
However even when Choose does not break both file, he is on tempo for the most effective seasons in MLB historical past. When his profession is over, he could also be thought-about, as Stark suggests, one of many best right-handed hitters of all time.
