Judge’s captaincy the dawn of a new era … or is it?
TAMPA, Fla. — Like everybody else within the Yankees’ universe, Gerrit Cole entered the offseason hoping that Aaron Judge had not performed his ultimate recreation in pinstripes.
But free company could be an unsure course of, and the ace admits to feeling “a bit uneasy,” particularly when hypothesis roared that the slugger appeared headed to the West Coast. Cole had some inside info; he’d been involved with the Giants’ Brandon Crawford, who additionally occurs to be his brother-in-law.
“Obviously, he charmed the Giants. Shocker; he charms everybody,” Cole mentioned. “Brandon said that the meeting went well. I tried to tune out the noise, but that was quite loud. I was sweating it with the rest of us for a second there.”
As the Bombers’ place gamers put together to report back to George M. Steinbrenner Field on Sunday, there’s a aid that Judge doesn’t belong to the Giants, the Padres or anybody else. After signing a nine-year, $360 million contract, Judge is probably going a Yankee for all times, sure for Monument Park and presumably Cooperstown.
He was additionally topped because the sixteenth captain in franchise historical past, an period that may start the second he walks by the clubhouse door.
“He’s here now,” supervisor Aaron Boone mentioned. “He knows, without a doubt, this is now his home — and, in a lot of ways, his team. I don’t think you’ll see that big of a change in the person, who he is and how he goes about things, but I do think there’s that incremental step of leadership that he assumes responsibility [for]. He takes a lot of pride in that.”
But inside the clubhouse partitions, Judge’s affect cannot be measured by statistics alone.
“There was a lot of attention on him, but it still felt like it was all about the team somehow,” mentioned nearer Clay Holmes. “I think it just shows how he’s able to lead guys. There was a sense of, ‘This is us going out there.’ It was fun for everybody. I felt like we were all a part of it, and I think that speaks to how he goes about his business and treats people.”
Added reliever Michael King: “When everybody finds out you’re on the Yankees, their first query is, ‘What’s Aaron Judge like?’ He’s in contrast to anyone I’ve ever met as a result of he’s such a celebrity, however he treats everybody like they’re the star. I bear in mind I acquired referred to as up in 2019 and didn’t actually know anyone. He got here as much as me within the trainers’ room and mentioned, ‘About damn time you’re right here, Kinger!’ It made me really feel so good about myself. I completely love that about him.”
Judge has spoken with Derek Jeter, the Yanks’ earlier captain, about how Jeter approached the captaincy from 2003 by his retirement after the 2014 season. Judge has mentioned that he expects new “responsibilities to my teammates, the fan base, [and] the media,” however no seismic shift in his day-to-day preparation. Boone mentioned he believes Judge is prepared for any workload the title might entail.
“He’s been one of the main leaders on our team now for a number of years,” Boone mentioned. “He’s always one of those guys that I talk to, to confide in, when we’re considering different things. I’ll go to him with certain things that I’m thinking about, especially big picture with the team.”
Said pitcher Lou Trivino: “He was already the captain. No one was like, ‘Oh, Judge a captain? Never thought of that.’ In my mind, it was just a formality. He’s a very genuine guy; he cares more about just himself. He’s the guy you want on your team, not only because of his talent but his character.”
Though he’s a product of Linden, Calif., Judge makes his offseason house in Tampa and has been figuring out on the Yankees’ participant growth facility for weeks, swinging the bat alongside DJ LeMahieu, Gleyber Torres, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and others.
Few gamers across the league might create a web based stir just by taking a number of floor balls at first base, as Judge did earlier this week, however the crew’s most recognizable star has reached that degree. Yet, by all accounts, Judge stays level-headed, measured and targeted — simply as he was in 2017, his first full season within the Majors.
“He won’t change one bit,” mentioned catcher Jose Trevino. “He’s going to be the same guy. He’s going to be our leader. He’s going to be our captain. And we’re looking forward to it.”
