Last year the Yankees barely set the single season HR record with 267. The stars aligned with Torres, Andujar, Didi, and Hicks entering their prime; Judge, Stanton, and Sanchez continuing to be sluggers in their prime; and other power hitters offering various contributions throughout the year such as Voit, Bird, Neil Walker, Tyler Austin.
This year, four teams are on pace to surpass 267 HRs (Twins, Dodgers, Brewers, Yankees) with two more on pace for about 265 (Astros and Mariners). The leader of the group, the Twins, is on pace for 311 HRs (44 HRs or 16% more than last year's record). What took a lot of things going right for the Yankees last year is now an accomplishment that the tanking Mariners are on pace to duplicate. The evidence of the juiced ball is obvious, not sure why Manfred continues to deny it.