American League East Franchise Home Run Leaders In The Year 2035

Dustin Satloff. Getty Images.

Last week, I was in the building when Pete Alonso broke the Mets all-time home run record. It was an awesome experience. It got me thinking how rare it is to be there when an established franchise gets a new home run leader. This is only the second time (Alonso and Darryl Strawberry) in the last 40 years that a new Mets home run franchise leader was established. The Mets are one of the newer franchises too!

Let's take a look at who the American League East franchise home run leaders would be ten years from now. Could we see new leaders emerge?

American League East

New York Yankees

Current Home Run Leader: Babe Ruth (659)

Active Home Run Leader: Aaron Judge (354)

2035 Yankees Home Run Leader: Babe Ruth

Aaron Judge is the best hitter I've ever seen. I'm not saying he can't catch Ruth. I'm saying that he won't. He's already 33 years old and needs over 300 home runs. Judge is contracted for six more years with the Yankees. He'd need to finish this year strong and then hit nearly 50 home runs every year until he's 39 and not get hurt. Not happening.

Boston Red Sox

Current Home Run Leader: Ted Williams (521)

Active Home Run Leader: Jarren Duran (46)

2035 Red Sox Home Run Leader: Ted Williams

The only interesting note is that Rafael Devers did crack the Top 10 with 215 before he was traded. He's not hitting 521 either.

Kevin Sousa. Getty Images.

Toronto Blue Jays

Current Home Run Leader: Carlos Delgado (336)

Active Home Run Leader: Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. (181)

2035 Blue Jays Home Run Leader: Vladimir Guerrero, Jr.

Vladdy, Jr. is nearly certain to do this! He's only 155 home runs behind and is signed for 14 (!!!) more years. If he doesn't get traded or hurt, there's a good chance Vladdy Jr. is the Blue Jays franchise leader for the rest of our lives.

Baltimore Orioles

Current Home Run Leader: Cal Ripken, Jr. (431)

Active Home Run Leader: Gunner Henderson (84)

2035 Orioles Home Run Leader: Cal Ripken, Jr. 

Gunner has a chance but I have no confidence that the Orioles will stop being cheap. Even if the new ownership stopped making bobbleheads of themselves and spent money, can Henderson average 35 home runs a season for the next decade? That's really hard to do.

Julio Aguilar. Getty Images.

Tampa Bay Rays

Current Home Run Leader: Evan Longoria (261)

Active Home Run Leader: Brandon Lowe (150)

2035 Rays Home Run Leader: Junior Caminero

This is admittedly a reach. Caminero only has 42 career home runs but already has 35 this season. He's also only 21!  Lowe will likely be a free agent after next season and he's already 30. He might not hit 262 home runs in his career no matter where he ends up.

I could see the Rays using the Wander Franco money and keeping Caminero long term. I'm hopeful in the Rays new ownership. I could also see a world where there is a lockout that takes out all of 2027 and the Rays trade Caminero the year before he becomes a free agent for prospects to yet again rebuild. Sigh.

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This was pretty fun to do. Hopefully it's not too baseball nerdy. I can never tell. I'll do the additional divisions in the next week or so.