Aaron Judge

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #6 prospect in 2017
  The Yankees drafted Judge with their second of three first-round selections in 2013 and awarded him a $1.8 million bonus. He found success at every stop before becoming a bit streaky when he reached Triple-A late in 2015. He missed time in July 2016 with a knee injury but made his major league debut on Aug. 13. He and Tyler Austin that day became the first teammates in history to record back-to-back home runs in their first major league at-bats. Judge continued to show the big-time power, but he also struck out in 42 of his 84 at-bats. He easily has the best raw power in the system, and the tool rates as a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale. He won't completely access that power until he cleans up his approach and lowers his strikeout rate. He cut his strikeout percentage to 23.9 this year at Triple-A--his lowest mark since low Class A--but big league pitchers exploited holes in his swing. He's a slightly above-average runner underway and plays average defense in right field with a well above-average throwing arm. The right-field job in the Bronx is Judge's for the taking, but he'll have to continue to work to cut his strikeouts in order to seize the job in 2017.
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  Ranked New York Yankees #3 prospect in 2016
  Drafted with the second of the Yankees' three first-round picks in 2013, Judge was sought after for the monster power potential he showed over three years at Fresno State. After signing for $1.8 million, Judge has moved from center field to right field, where his offensive skills profile much better. He wrecked the competition at Double-A Eastern League in 2015, earning a starting spot in the Futures Game. Things got a little tougher when he moved to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes- Barre for the second half of the season, though. As would be expected for someone his size, Judge can hit a ball a long way. Even so, the Yankees laud Judge for resisting selling out for power and becoming a one-dimensional hitter. He's got more feel to hit than one would expect for a man his size. Triple-A pitchers found holes in his swing and his performance dipped. He's more athletic than one would expect in the outfield, running well once underway, and his raw arm strength is well above-average. Refined mechanics would improve this throwing accuracy. Judge checks all the boxes of a profile right fielder. With Carlos Beltran in the final year of his deal in 2015, there's still time for Judge to head back to Triple-A to continue refining his skill set before he's needed in the major leagues. The Yankees were unwilling to part with Judge at the trade deadline, and they expect him to be part of the team's effort to get younger on the fly.
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  Ranked New York Yankees #2 prospect in 2015
  A baseball, football and basketball star in high school, Judge focused on baseball at Fresno State. His raw power didn't translate in games until his junior year, when he hit 12 home runs and slugged .655. The Yankees gave him $1.8 million with the 32nd overall pick in the draft. A torn right quad delayed his pro debut until this season. Armed with 80 raw power on the 20-80 scale, Judge takes an impressive batting practice. But unlike most players his size, Judge's in-game approach is geared to hit over power. He's just as comfortable lining pitches to the opposite power alley as he is turning on a fastball on the inner-half. His swing is shorter than most players his size. As would be expected of someone with his build, there are holes in his swing as pitchers will force him to prove he can handle pitches in. Blessed with an advanced approach, he would have led either the Sally or Florida State League in walk rate if he had enough plate appearances to qualify. He moved off of center field immediately in pro ball and is an average defender in right field with an above-average throwing arm. He's an average runner. Judge was getting extra polish in the Arizona Fall League, which should help him jump to Double-A Trenton in 2015. His tools are what scouts look for in a right fielder.
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  Ranked New York Yankees #6 prospect in 2014
  Judge's physicality earned him football scholarship offers out of high school in 2010, when he was also a 31st-round pick of the Athletics, as well as comparisons to NBA star Blake Griffin. Instead he headed to Fresno State for baseball, where he hit just six home runs in his first two seasons before bopping 12 and slugging .655 as a junior. The Yankees took him 32nd overall and signed him for $1.8 million, though a torn quad muscle in his right leg delayed his pro debut. If his 6-foot-7 frame didn't make it obvious, Judge is a physical beast and has earned comparisions to Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton. He shows impressive batting-practice power thanks to his strength and leverage, though some scouts are worried about how well it will translate into games. At his height, it's hard for his swing path to be short, and he's not expected to be more than a .260 hitter. He has slightly above-average speed and a strong arm, and while he can play center field, he profiles better on a corner. The Yankees had not spent a first-round pick on a college hitter since 2001 (John-Ford Griffin) before taking Eric Jagielo and Judge in 2013. A healthy Judge ought to join Jagielo at low Class A Charleston to open the season, and while Jagielo is more polished, Judge offers more upside.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #30 prospect in 2013 draft
  With a build that's rare for baseball at 6-foot-7 and 255 pounds, Judge earns physical comparisons to NBA player Blake Griffin. He was a three-sport athlete in high school and got most of his college offers for football as a tight end. But he loved baseball and headed to Fresno State--where both his parents went--even after the Athletics drafted him in the 31st round out of high school. Judge puts on jaw-dropping batting practice displays, but some scouts worry that his power won't translate to games. He hit four home runs as a sophomore and had eight so far this season as he got bigger in his stance and made adjustments. Judge profiles as a .250 hitter and is going to strike out a lot, which comes with the territory for tall power hitters with long arms. A team can live with the strikeouts if he hits 30-plus home runs a year. While his swing is more about strength and leverage than bat speed, he has light-tower power. Judge is a solid-average runner with an above-average arm and will be a solid defender in right field.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked International League #19 prospect in 2016
  Judge reached Triple-A last year and recorded a .681 OPS in half a season, which was his worst showing at any professional stop. He returned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to start this season and fared much better. He made his major league debut in mid-August, though he again struggled to adjust to a new level. Listed at 6-foot-7, 275 pounds, Judge is an imposing figure in the batter's box and has the plus power to match. He's more than just a masher, however, and has discipline at the plate. But his size makes his swing long, and more advanced pitchers have been able to exploit some of his holes. Judge fits the right-field profile. He moves well in the outfield and has plus arm strength.
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  Ranked Eastern League #15 prospect in 2015
  Judge's massive 6-foot-7 frame puts him in rarified territory and makes it difficult for scouts to fit him with an accurate comparison. He collected 31 extra-base hits, including 12 home runs, in 63 games at Trenton before the Yankees promoted him to Triple-A. Having such a big body means Judge has a big area for pitchers to attack, with a greater probability of finding holes to exploit. The book on Judge this year read: work him hard inside before finishing him off with soft stuff away. His strikeout rate between Double-A and Triple-A bordered on 27 percent this season, which shows he has work to do before his game is major league ready. Even so, Judge's power is undeniable, and he has the potential to make an impact in the near future. Judge isn't Frankenstein in the outfield by any means. Nearly all who watch him say he's more athletic than they'd estimate simply by looking at his body, and all praise his throwing arm as plus. He worked this year to improve his footwork on throws, which in turn will make his throws more accurate.
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  Ranked International League #10 prospect in 2015
  That Judge didn't duplicate the big numbers he produced at Double-A Trenton in the IL hardly dampened the optimism surrounding the hulking outfielder. He topped all Yankees minor leaguers with 20 homers, though just eight came at Triple-A as he struggled for stretches against experienced pitchers who found holes in his swing with breaking and offspeed pitches. He did show the ability to make adjustments and punish mistakes. Judge uses a gap-to-gap approach with bat speed and natural strength to drive the ball. A league observer compared him with Giancarlo Stanton for his power to all fields and Miguel Sano because he touches balls and they go. Judge is agile and athletic for his size. He moves well and has more than enough arm strength to play on an outfield corner.
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  Ranked Florida State League #15 prospect in 2014
  A torn quad delayed Judge's pro debut until this season, which he split evenly between low Class A Charleston and Tampa. His athleticism, chance to hit for average and power-speed combo pushed him ahead of fellow Yankees 2013 first-rounder Eric Jagielo, who also had his supporters among league observers. Judge's monstrous size (he's possibly a lean 20-30 pounds heavier than his listed weight) grabs the attention of scouts, managers and opposing players alike. He has prodigious tools to go with his jumbo frame, yet the separating factor in his success may be his short swing for a man his size. "He is fairly short to the ball for his size," a pro scout with an NL club said. Despite his size, Judge works with a swing geared for the gaps, so his huge raw power may not necessarily translate into future 30-homer seasons. He showed confidence in his ability to work deep counts, drawing his share of walks while also striking out. He fits the right-field profile, running well enough for the spot and flashing double-plus arm strength, with improved arm accuracy.
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  Ranked South Atlantic League #8 prospect in 2014
  As a Fresno State first-round pick playing in the SAL, Judge should be expected to have his way with less experienced pitchers, and he did. The massive, 6-foot-7 right fielder had his share of strikeouts, but he also drew bushels of walks to go with solid power production, which included 17 home runs between Charleston and high Class A Tampa. "He's not someone who is hacking and swinging hard," Greenville manager Darren Fenster said. "This guy is a hitter first. For a guy who should hit for power like he projects to, the fact he has the hit tool bodes well." Scouts view Judge as a capable defensive right fielder with a strong arm.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #90 prospect in 2017
• Ranked Baseball America's #76 prospect in 2016
• Ranked Baseball America's #53 prospect in 2015

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: The Yankees drafted Judge with their second of three first-round selections in 2013 and awarded him a $1.8 million bonus. He found success at every stop before becoming a bit streaky when he reached Triple-A late in 2015. He missed time in July 2016 with a knee injury but made his major league debut on Aug. 13. He and Tyler Austin that day became the first teammates in history to record back-to-back home runs in their first major league at-bats. Judge continued to show the big-time power, but he also struck out in 42 of his 84 at-bats. Scouting Report: Judge easily has the best raw power in the system, and the tool rates as a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale. He won't completely access that power until he cleans up his approach and lowers his strikeout rate. He cut his strikeout percentage to 23.9 this year at Triple-A--his lowest mark since low Class A--but big league pitchers exploited holes in the 6-foot-7 masher's swing. He's a slightly above-average runner underway and plays average defense in right field with a well above-average throwing arm. The Future: The right-field job in the Bronx is Judge's for the taking, but he'll have to continue to work to cut his strikeouts in order to seize the job in 2017.