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Minor League Notes: New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge finds his power stroke

By Brody Hilgenkamp

Mar 8, 2016; Jupiter, FL, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) at bat against the Miami Marlins during a spring training game at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 8, 2016; Jupiter, FL, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) at bat against the Miami Marlins during a spring training game at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

A New York Yankees prospect who is finding his power stroke and a dominant Double-A pitching rotation highlight this week’s minor league notes.

(Note: All stats entering Wednesday unless noted otherwise.)

After the 2015 season, New York Yankees outfield prospect Aaron Judge had the baseball world wondering when he would be launching home runs in Yankee Stadium. An absolute behemoth listed at 6 foot, 7 inches and 275 pounds, Judge was coming off a season in which he hit 20 home runs between Double- and Triple-A.

Sure, he only slugged .373 in 61 games at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but it was his first exposure to the highest level of the minors. More repetitions would surely bring him up to speed.

This season started much like last season ended. He limped to a .300 weighted on-base average through June 2 and hit seven home runs. But there was one number suggesting he was going to turn things around: he was hitting .270 on balls in play (BABIP), 84 points lower than what he had hit over the previous two seasons.

Judge has come roaring back. Since June 3, Judge is slashing .368/.491/.759 with nine home runs and has a .541 wOBA. His strikeout rate also dropped from 26.2 percent to 17.6 percent and his walk rate jumped from 7.2 percent to 17.6. His BABIP over that span is .390.

The slow start to the season may have been because Judge was getting used to a new hitting approach. According to StatCorner, 32.7 percent of Judge’s batted balls this season are fly balls, the highest rate of his career, and his 33.6 percent groundball rate is the lowest of his career.

Entering Wednesday the Yankees were 27th in the league in slugging (.390) and 23rd in on-base percentage (.310). An injury to first baseman Greg Bird forced the Yankees to give way too many plate appearances to aging veterans such as Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez. If the Yankees somehow find a way to mingle in the playoff chase, Judge could provide a powerful kick down the stretch.

After a week off, we’re back at it with another week of minor league notes.

Next: Triple-A

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