MLB legend 'Big Mac' confident Aaron Judge will break home run record if healthy, believes injuries derailed Giancarlo Stanton's chances 

Former single-season home run champion Mark McGwire believes New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge is in a remarkable position to surpass the mark set by Barry Bonds. McGwire also said that Giancarlo Stanton also had a genuine shot at breaking the record, but recurring injuries have severely hampered his chances.

Nicknamed "Big Mac", McGwire is a 12-time All-Star who made his MLB debut with the Oakland Athletics and was named the American League Rookie of the Year in 1987. 11 years later, McGwire set the MLB single-season record by hitting 70 home runs for the St. Louis Cardinals. However, the record lasted for just three years as Barry Bonds smashed 73 home runs in 2003.

It was later revealed that many MLB players were using performance-enhancing drugs at the time, and allegations were leveled at many of its top stars, including McGwire. Although he refused to answer on the issue at a congressional hearing in 2005, McGwire admitted to using steroids during his career five years later, adding that he only used them in recovering from injuries.

Earlier this week, Mark McGwire appeared as a guest on the "Casa de Klub" podcast hosted by Tyler Casagrande and two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber. On the show, McGwire discussed the possibility of Aaron Judge setting a new MLB single-season home-run record.

"Records are meant to be broken," McGwire said. "...These players are really good today, especially Aaron [Judge]. Barring injury, I've always said that he and [Giancarlo] Stanton have unbelieveable chances of breaking these records. Unfortunately, Stanton has had a tough go with injuries."

(from 55:11 mark onwards)

Mark McGwire sits in 11th position on the all-time list with 583 home runs to his name, despite playing less than 140 games in half of his 16-year career.

Aaron Judge has been fantastic: Mark McGwire

Aaron Judge can break the MLB single-season home run record (Image Credit: IMAGN)

During the same podcast interview, McGwire further praised Aaron Judge and commended the Yankees slugger for his outstanding performances this season. Nevertheless, McGwire feels the numbers would have been even better if Judge made a stronger start to the campaign:

"So far this year, Aaron [Judge] has been fantastic. Think about that, he got off to a horrible start in April. And look where he is right now. It's crazy," McGwire said.

In 1987, Mark McGwire hit 49 home runs during the regular season to set a new major league record for a rookie. Judge eventually surpassed that mark by hitting 52 home runs on his way to clinching the AL Rookie of the Year award in 2017.