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New York Yankees: Aaron Judge Named Top-10 Outfield Prospect

By Kenneth Teape

Mar 2, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (right) bats against catcher Trent Garrison (left) during spring training workouts at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (right) bats against catcher Trent Garrison (left) during spring training workouts at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New York Yankees have one of the top rated outfield prospects in all of baseball in Aaron Judge, who finished in the top-10 of MLB.com’s rankings.

The New York Yankees are not normally known for their farm system. In years past they used the farm system as a way to acquire veteran players via trade, not make any homegrown talent. That tune has changed in recent seasons, as the Yankees have a solid stable of young players to be excited about in the future.

We saw a glimpse of that last season when the Yankees called up top pitching prospect Luis Severino and first baseman Greg Bird. We could see more of the same in the near future, as the Yankees had a player named to the top-10 prospects list at catcher in Gary Sanchez and second base in Rob Refsynder. Refsnyder got a taste of the major leagues last season, but still retains his prospect eligibility.

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While those players are solid in their own right, the one that will get Yankees fans most excited is power hitting outfielder Aaron Judge. Like Sanchez and Refsnyder, Judge was also named to the top-10 prospect list at his position, coming in as the eighth ranked outfield prospect in baseball. In addition to the position list, Judge also landed at No.31 on the MLB.com Top-100 prospects list, and for good reason.

Judge is physically imposing, standing at 6-feet-7 inches tall and weighing 275 pounds, looking more like an NFL tight end or NBA power forward than MLB right fielder. Fortunately for the Yankees, Judge decided to go with baseball and the Yankees landed him for a cool $1.8 million as the 32nd overall pick in the 2013 MLB Draft.

Here is what the people at MLB.com 2016 Prospect Pipeline Watch had to say about Judge:

"Built along the lines of Giancarlo Stanton, Judge has similar strength, leverage and huge raw power. He focused on working counts and the middle of the field during his 2014 pro debut, but he started to turn his right-handed swing loose more often last season. Depending on how much Judge balances power versus discipline, he could be a higher-average hitter with 20 or so homers per season or more of a masher who delivers 30-plus long balls. An excellent athlete for his size, Judge has average speed and a strong arm. He has spent the bulk of his pro career in right field, but he could play left and fill in in center if needed."

When drawing comparisons to arguably the best right fielder currently in baseball, you know you are doing something right. Those are lofty expectations for anyone to live up to, but Judge has the skill set and abilities to do so.

Judge has a strong chance of breaking into the big leagues at some point this season. It will be tough for him to do it on the outset of Spring Training, as the Yankees have a log jam in the outfield and at DH. But, if last season is any indication, the aging Yankees players will inevitably spend time on the disabled list, opening up a spot for Judge in the lineup.

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If that happens, do not expect that spot to be relinquished easily, as Judge is MLB ready right now; he and the Yankees are just waiting for a spot to open up.

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