May 9, 2018; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) watches a two-run home run off of Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel (46) during the eighth inning at Yankee Stadium. Photo Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Aaron Judge, OF, New York Yankees
2018: After Judge hit 52 home runs in 2017, no one would’ve blamed him for regressing. Yet few expected only 27 home runs in 498 plate appearances. The rest of his batting profile remained stable, and he appears to have recovered from the broken wrist that cost him two months. His .391 wOBA indicates he was plenty valuable even when his prodigious power was MIA.
Forecast: A clean bill of health locks in Judge as one of baseball’s few 40-homer threats. He adequately balances light-tower power with scarce contact, but it’s a tightrope act. Fortunately, decent plate discipline and elite batted-ball efficiency help mitigate the risk. He’s a good J.D. Martinez consolation prize and holds a slight batting-average edge over teammate Giancarlo Stanton.
2019 Projections: 282 avg., 28 doubles, two triples, 46 home runs, 101 RBIs, 101 runs, seven stolen bases.
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