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Aaron Judge: The Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton?

By Matthew Schoettler

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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With Aaron Judge‘s immense raw power, he looks like the second-coming of Marlins’ star Giancarlo Stanton.

The New York Yankees selected Aaron Judge in the first round (32nd overall) of the 2013 MLB Amateur Draft out of California State University Fresno. Before Aaron Judge enrolled in college, the Oakland Athletics drafted him in 31st round of the 2010 draft. After demonstrating his incredible power at Cal State Fresno, the Yankees viewed him as a game changer; thus, they decided to invest high on Aaron Judge.

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Last season, the New York Yankees were in the midst of a playoff push, despite their aging roster, and Aaron Judge, Greg Bird, and Luis Severino were rumored in trade talks throughout the first half of the season. However, Brian Cashman quashed any rumors surrounding the Yankees’ trio of young, impressive prospects. Cashman knows the huge upside with Aaron Judge, and that is why Judge is almost considered an untouchable piece to the Yankees’ puzzle.

As the Yankees continue to get older, their farm system must be able to fill the voids left by aging veterans. With Carlos Beltran entering his final year with the Yankees, it is assumed that Aaron Judge will find a home in right field at Yankee Stadium. Aaron Judge’s power should play well in hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium, especially with the short porches in right and left field.

In two professional seasons, Aaron Judge split time between five different leagues, quickly ascending from Single-A to Triple-A from 2014 to 2015. Through two professional seasons, Aaron Judge hit 37 home runs in 255 games. Aaron Judge’s raw power resembles that of Miami Marlins outfield Giancarlo Stanton; moreover, Judge and Stanton have similar frames. Stanton stands at 6′ 6″ and 240 lbs; additionally, Judge stands at 6′ 7” and 275 lbs.

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While Giancarlo Stanton carries “generational” power, Aaron Judge has the potential to be a 40 home run player if he continues to develop at the plate. To shed some light on Stanton’s incredible power, through his first two seasons, he hit 67 home runs (compared to Aaron Judge’s 37). Before the 2010 season, Stanton was a consensus top-five prospect in baseball; however, entering the 2016 season, Aaron Judge is a unanimous top-70 prospect.

Both Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton are offensive-first outfielders with an absurd amount of power. Whether or not Judge develops into the type of power hitter most project him to be is another story. Outside of Aaron Judge’s stint at Triple-A, he possessed a .278 or better batting average at every stop in his minor league career. However, with huge power comes high strikeouts, and Aaron Judge is no different, registering 275 strikeouts in 255 games.

For now, we can consider Aaron Judge to be a poor man’s Giancarlo Stanton, but Judge has the potential to ride on Stanton’s coattails. The New York Yankees were smart in keeping their young core of prospects together, despite narrowly missing out on an A.L. East title. The decision to keep Aaron Judge, Greg Bird, and Luis Severino should pay dividends down the road, with each prospects’ potential being pretty high.

Aaron Judge, very well, might never develop into a star power hitter, but he has all the tools to become just that. The New York Yankees need to be patient with his development. While it is entirely possible for Aaron Judge to earn a promotion to the MLB in 2015, 2017 presents much more upside for the young outfielder. If Aaron Judge crushes Triple-A hitting in 2016, the New York Yankees will not need to see anything else from their future middle-of-the-order bat.

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Aaron Judge earned a Futures Game nomination in 2015, and more should be expected in 2016. Aaron Judge, likely, starts out at Triple-A this upcoming season, but do not sleep on a potential September call-up. Yankees’ fans, you have a gem of a prospect on your hands.

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