American · Linden, California · Born 26 April 1992American baseball outfielder and Yankees captain, holder of the American League single-season home run record with 62 homers in 2022.
Born in Linden, California in 1992, Aaron James Judge was adopted at birth by Patty and Wayne Judge, both teachers who raised him in the Central Valley agricultural community. Standing 6'7" and weighing 282 pounds, he became a multi-sport athlete in high school before attending California State University, Fresno, where he played college baseball for three seasons. The New York Yankees selected him with the 32nd overall pick in the 2013 MLB Draft. Judge made his major league debut in 2016 but established himself during his remarkable 2017 rookie season. He set a new American League rookie record with 52 home runs while capturing the Home Run Derby title at Marlins Park. His imposing physical presence and prodigious power generated widespread attention, earning him unanimous AL Rookie of the Year honors. Despite his early success, injuries limited his availability in subsequent seasons, including a 2018 campaign shortened by a broken wrist. The 2022 season marked Judge's career pinnacle. He hit 62 home runs, surpassing Roger Maris's 61-year-old American League record of 61, while batting .311 with a 1.111 OPS. His historic performance earned him the AL MVP award unanimously. Having declined a $213.5 million contract extension before the season, Judge parlayed his record-breaking year into a nine-year, $360 million deal to remain with the Yankees. Judge was named the Yankees' 16th captain in December 2022, the first since Derek Jeter's retirement. He led the franchise to the 2024 World Series, where they fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers. As the largest player to excel at right field in MLB history, Judge combines elite power with solid defensive play and on-base skills, establishing himself as one of baseball's premier sluggers and a cornerstone of the Yankees organization.
Home run hitting, AL MVP awards, American League home run record
How They Played
Power hitter, right fielder with exceptional plate discipline
Lasting Impact
Modern Yankees icon who broke AL home run record with 62 HRs in 2022
Career Honours
- AL MVP 2x (2017,2022)
- World Series finalist (2024)
- All-Star 7x
- Silver Slugger 4x
- American League HR record (62 in 2022)
- AL Rookie of the Year 2017
| Team | Period | Games |
|---|---|---|
| New York Yankees | 2016–present | — |
American Athletes