New York Yankees Captain Aaron Judge’s Formidable Pregame Drills Are “All About the Feel”

New York Yankees have a history of their ability to discover and recruit baseball athletes who have the budding possibility of becoming legends of the ballgame. From legendary Babe Ruth to iconic Derek Jeter, the team has consistently churned out superstars who have rewritten what it means to be a Yankee. And now, in Aaron Judge, the team has once again found a player who will one day find his place in the hallowed halls of Cooperstown.

Judge’s last season’s historic 62 home runs will forever be etched in the archives of the game. As the captain of the Yankees now, Judge has consistently proven his mettle on the field, which was also on full display during the team’s Opening Day in 2023. In his very first appearance at the plate, the phenom sent a home run soaring off the Giants. But what does it take for a player like Judge to perform at this level? What goes on behind the scenes before the official first pitch is thrown? Well, it turns out that Judge is just as diligent in his pre-game drills as he is on the field.

Aaron Judge’s pregame drills are “all about the feel”

In a recent interview, Aaron Judge spoke about his drills before he is ready to take on the actual batting practice. The Yankees captain knows that the training that goes on behind the scenes needs precision as well as skills, and he works hard to make it perfect. For the slugger, the drills are all about getting into the right mindset and feeling confident in his abilities.

During his pre-game routine, he starts with some Tee work, focusing on his swing and getting a feel for the ball. “For me, drills are all about feel like what you’re feeling like what do I need to work on today to get me right? I like to do a little Tee work to get things started, you know, from the Tee go to a little side toss, and then we go to straight-on flips and do a little work there, and then, hey, it’s game on.”

READ MORE: $20 Dish Inspired by Aaron Judge Gets an Overwhelming Approval From His Wife and Parents

The raw power of his hits that goes behind every swing, and the sound of the ball connecting with the bat for a mere second before it goes zooming off is surreal. The captain looks like he’s in his top form and is ready to embark on his quest for another championship with confidence.

The captain’s heft $360 million contract is worth every penny

Aaron Judge’s reputation as a baseball star is well-deserved. Apart from just hitting home runs, he led the major leagues with runs scored, RBI, walks, on-base percentage, slugging, OPS, and total bases last season – which earned him AL MVP badges. 

And as the light of dawn fell upon another new baseball season, the pressure was on the newly appointed captain to justify his captaincy and the hefty $360 million contract, but he didn’t disappoint. In the very first inning of the 2023 Opener, the slugger drove the second pitch he saw from Giants’ Logan Webb and sent it 422 feet into the air toward the center field. Seems like for Judge, it was just another day at the office.

WATCH THIS STORY: Top 5 most electrifying home runs by New York Yankees star Aaron Judge