The Yankees’ Aaron Judge has arguably more power than any other hitter in the majors. What to expect from Judge this year? Here are two props available to wager at Mybookie on Judge’s 2020 MLB season – assuming there is one – and an overview.
Aaron Judge MLB Awards Odds & Analysis For 2020 Season
- Most home runs of any batter: Judge is +1000
- AL MVP Award: Judge is +900
For three straight years, including 2019, Aaron Judge has had the top-selling jersey in Major League Baseball.
That Major League Baseball had to shutdown due to the coronavirus might have been a blessing in disguise for New York Yankees slugging outfielder Aaron Judge. He was going to be in question for the original Opening Day as it was with a cracked rib. Now that won’t be a concern.
Judge had a broken bone in his body and Yankees doctors couldn’t find it — even after Judge told team trainers he heard a “crack” and a “pop” last Sept. 18, when he tried to rob the Angels’ Albert Pujols of a single. After sitting one day, Judge was back in the lineup for the remainder of the regular season and playoffs, even though he needed multiple cortisone shots to deal with his pain.
“I went home after we lost (to the Astros in the ALCS) and couldn’t stop swinging the bat,” Judge told me. “I probably overdid it.”
There had been some talk that the Yankees might move Judge to first base to help him stay healthy, but manager Aaron Boone shut the door on that not too long ago.
“He has had a couple of unfortunate injuries the last couple of years, but moving him? Absolutely not… He is an elite defender and one of the game’s great players. Never a discussion to move him,’’ Boone said.
Judge, who played college baseball at Fresno State, was selected by the Yankees in the first round of the 2013 MLB draft. After making his major league debut in 2016 and hitting a home run in his first career at bat, Judge went on to have a record-breaking rookie season in 2017. He was named an All-Star and won the Home Run Derby, becoming the first rookie to do so. Judge ended the season with 52 home runs, breaking Mark McGwire’s MLB rookie record of 49. Judge’s record has since been surpassed by the Mets’ Pete Alonso.
Judge hit 27 homers last year in limited time due to injury. He reached the 25 homer plateau for the third straight season. On Aug. 27 last year, Judge hit his 100th career home run at Seattle (off Yusei Kikuchi). It came in his 371st career game, becoming the third-fastest player to reach the mark (in terms of games played) in baseball history behind only Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard (Game No. 325 on 6/27/07) and teammate Gary Sánchez (Game No. 355 on 8/23/19).
Among players drafted by the organization since 1997, Judge’s 110 career home runs trail only Brett Gardner (124HR) for most hit as a member of the Yankees.
This offseason, the Yankees and Judge avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $8.5 million contract. It was a huge raise for Judge, who was arbitration-eligible for the first time.
In a very cool move this offseason, Judge donated headphones to schools in New York City to help students with online learning.
“Life’s changed a lot for us the past month,” Judge said in an Instagram video. “Education has always been important to me, so I’ve teamed up with my partners at JBL to provide children in need in New York City with headphones so they stay focused in their learning environment and remain successful in the classroom.”
