Yankees Have Secret First Base and Pitching Weapon in Aaron Judge from Old College Past

As they enter the 2024 season, the New York Yankees have quite a few questions to answer. Could Juan Soto continue his upward trajectory, only this time in pinstripes? Can Carlos Rodon rediscover his lost glory? Above everything, can Aaron Judge stay injury-free in a tough position? While these questions will be answered in due time, the Bombers have quite a few options regarding their usage of Judge. 

In his major league career till now, Judge has remained an outfielder. While the slugger has undoubtedly excelled in this position, there has always been a question of whether he can shift. Well! If one looks at the playing history of Judge, one finds a surprising revelation – Aaron Judge was once a first baseman and a pitcher!

The multiple talents of Aaron Judge

The Athletic recently reported that All Rise was occasionally playing as a first baseman during the Spring Training sessions. While Judge acted like he was doing it for fun, one wondered whether it was the Yankees preparing for the inevitable aging of their superstar. What was interesting was that Judge shared how he enjoyed “revisiting the position and learning some of the nuances” since he last played in that position as a freshman at Fresno State.

That’s right, the Yankees’ superstar outfielder was once a first baseman. What’s even better is that he also used to be a pitcher in his high school team. But the best part is that Judge excelled in these positions. Especially as a pitcher where he could touch 90mph through his fastballs. Also, as a senior, Judge enjoyed a 6-0 record with a 0.88 ERA.

On the other hand, the tendency of hitting home runs was always there within All Rise. Even in his senior year, Judge thrashed a 500 ft home run. So in a way, there was always something special in Judge, but this revelation of him excelling as a pitcher is eye-opening.

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While one can’t expect him to pitch for the Yankees (you never know), there’s at least a hope of seeing him as a first baseman. Especially as the Bronx Bombers don’t really have much depth in that area. They certainly wouldn’t want a repeat of 2023 this time.

Why the New York Yankees need All Rise’s versatility

This offseason saw the Yankees increase their outfield depth but then their infield remains undercooked. More precisely, it’s their first base that’s an issue. Only Anthony Rizzo and DJ LeMahieu are comfortable in this position. However, LeMahieu is currently the first-choice third baseman. It becomes imperative for the Yankees to find a suitable backup – Judge can fill that role beautifully. 

The fact that the Yankees have increased their outfield depth is just another cherry on this cake. For a team that’s aiming for the World Series, they need to be more creative. Perhaps Judge recognizes this and so is preparing himself for it.

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