New York Yankees: Thank old pal Nick Swisher for rookie slugger Aaron Judge

New York Yankees rookie slugger Aaron Judge is having an outstanding freshman season. Though the Yankees scouting department deserves accolades for drafting him in the first place, it may not have been possible without some help from old pal Nick Swisher.

During his years with the Yankees, Nick Swisher was a good player to have on the roster. He wasn’t especially outstanding, but he did boost locker room morale. His positive attitude helped them contend and take home the 2009 World Series title. In 2010, Swisher played well enough to earn his way onto the American League All-Star roster.

During his four seasons with New York, Swisher smacked over 100 home runs and delivered a .268/.367/.483 batting line. He hit at least 23 home runs each season with the Yankees and finished every year with a minimum of 82 RBI. In short, he produced at a consistent rate.

Swisher played so well with the Yankees that after the 2012 season he hit free agency and was lured away to the Cleveland Indians. The departure from New York and the big fat contract he signed with Cleveland awarded the Yankees with a compensatory pick in that year’s draft. They would use this pick on Aaron Judge.

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In a draft also featuring fellow Yankees rookie outfielder Clint Frazier, Judge was selected 32nd overall. This means just about every other team in baseball passed on Judge before the Yankees decided to take the mammoth Fresno State University slugger. So far it has been a great decision by the Yankees, as Judge is already setting franchise rookie records previously set by Joe DiMaggio.

The funny thing is, the Yankees have not always been this fortunate with compensatory picks. The best example was in 2009 when they lost their 25th overall pick to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim because they signed Mark Teixeira in the offseason. With that choice the Angels were able to draft Mike Trout. We’ll never know if the Yankees would have taken the Millville Meteor with that selection anyway, but it completely stole away the possibility.

Imagine for a moment if the Yankees outfield currently consistent of Trout in center field and Judge in right field. This could have happened if not for signing Teixeira. Of course, the cost is the 2009 World Series, as Teixeira was a big part of that season.

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He didn’t know it at the time, but Swisher’s parting gift to the Yankees was Judge. By deciding to move on from Swisher when they did, the Yankees secured themselves a better future ahead. Four years later, it has paid off.