Aaron Judge is the American League MVP

New York Yankees Aaron Judge was named the 2022 American League Most Valuable Player (MVP). Photo by Larry Salazar/TGSportstv1.

The Yankees won the American League this season because Aaron Judge hit 62 home runs and was named the league's most valuable player for his efforts.

Judge, an outfielder for the New York Yankees, received 28 of 30 first-place votes to win the American League MVP award on Thursday after having a historic season. Being named the MVP of the AL, Judge becomes the first Yankees player to win the honor since Alex Rodriguez in 2007.

It looked like Judge and Los Angeles Angels' ace and reigning MVP Shohei Ohtani were the only two contenders for the award. Ohtani had another great year, but Judge's record-setting home run totals ultimately won.

Judge not only set a new AL record with 62 home runs this season, surpassing Roger Maris by 61 years, but he also came close to winning the Triple Crown.

The final results had Judge with 410 points, Ohtani in second with two first-place votes and 280 points, and Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez in third with 232 points.

Judge, now 30 years old, becomes the 13th player in Yankees history to earn the honor, joining the ranks of legends like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, and Roger Maris. There hasn't been a team in any league with more MVPs than these 13 individuals.