New York Yankees: Aaron Judge
New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge’s career could not have possibly gotten off to a worse start than it did when he was called up for the final months of the 2016 season. While fellow top prospect Gary Sanchez was setting rookie power records and nearly winning Rookie of the Year despite playing in only 53 games, Judge was struggling mightily. He hit only .179/.263/.345 with 42 strikeouts in only 84 at-bats.
Judge was so bad at the end of 2016 that his place on the Opening Day roster in 2017 wasn’t even guaranteed despite the fact that the Yankees were not actually pegged to contend for a playoff spot for the first time in years. The big outfielder, however, had other plans. Judge finally put it together in Spring Training, and the rest is history.
All Judge has done in his first two full MLB seasons is hit .282/.409/.584 with 79 home runs and 181 RBI in 267 games. He has also walked 203 times. Judge nearly pulled off the Rookie of the Year/MVP sweep in 2017 with his 52 homers and 114 RBI. He has also been a monster in the postseason, hitting .254/.367/.627 with seven homers and 15 RBI in 18 games.
Judge still strikes out a ton, but he is a much more well-rounded player than some of the 6-foot-7 giants who have come before him in MLB history. He has one of the most disciplined approaches at the plate in the league and plays good defense in right field. Judge also has a cannon for an arm. He has quickly become one of baseball’s biggest stars, and for good reason.