MLB: The Most Overrated Prospects Heading into 2017

Aaron Judge – 45th

Aaron Judge is ranked 45th of all prospects in baseball and is regarded as the part of the youth movement in the Bronx. Judge is a right fielder who also can play first base, and with his six-foot-seven frame offers up a raw power option.

However, Judge will fall victim to the same standards that other power hitters have. Although he offers speed and fielding, which most other power hitters don’t, his trends at the plate are worrisome. While his ceiling may be with the likes of Giancarlo Stanton, it is going to take a lot of work to get there.

The biggest problem with Judge is he falls into the power hitting trap of striking out too much. We are seeing a movement in the MLB, the home run is no longer as valuable, and that is shown by this years free agent market. Mark Trumbo, Jose Bautista, and Mike Napoli all took ages to sign, and didn’t get what they wanted because they strike out too much.

Ten years ago, teams would be jumping at the bite for these players, now that is not the case. Judge had a 44.2 strike out percent during his big league tenure. Granted a 27 game sample size isn’t fair, but in his minor league career that mark has always been around 25 percent.

Judge is going to have to prove he can make contact with big league pitching, because if you can’t touch it you’re not going to crush it. Right now, Judge hasn’t proven that and is making his case for the 45th best prospect seem far-fetched. With a crowded first base and right field scene, and with Clint Frazier on his way, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Judge be dealt.