1. Aaron Judge, RF
DOB: 04/26/1992
Height/Weight: 6’7” 275 lbs.
Bats/Throws: R/R
Drafted/Acquired: Drafted 32nd overall in the 2013 draft, Fresno State University; signed for $1,800,000
Previous Ranking(s): 2015: #1 (Org), #49 (Overall),
2015 Stats: .255/.330/.448; 20 HR, 7 SB between Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Key Tools: 60 power, 60 arm, 55 glove
Role: 60—Above-average regular
Judge is a towering, mammoth man with the raw power to match the body. He’s so strong that the ball jumps off his bat without needing much uppercut or loft out of the swing plane. The raw is a grade above the game power, as his massive frame makes for an inherently long swing and some unavoidable swing-and-miss. Judge does have an idea at the plate, however, and doesn't often expand his (large) zone. He will sometimes be overly aggressive against spin, especially if you throw it early in counts, but he will punish fastballs in and around the zone. It's almost as if Judge's body prevents him from being the kind of pure hitter he could be, but the trade off for 20-plus-home-run seasons is probably a fair one.
On defense, Judge is a prototypical right fielder. He moves well for a corner outfielder--though that doesn't show up in his home-to-first times--and he has a strong, accurate arm. He's not going to win any Gold Gloves, and the body might eventually force him to first base, but for now the glove rounds out an above-average profile on both sides of the ball.
