OLDIES KNOW HE’S A GOODIE
Pinstriped greats heap praise on Judge’s power surge
MANY OF the greatest living Yankees from the past half-century graced the field at the Stadium Sunday for Old-Timers’ Day, and they’ve been keeping a close eye on the most electric player currently donning pinstripes — Aaron Judge.
“Unbelievable,” said Jorge Posada, who made his first appearance in the Old-Timers’ Game this year. “I’m super happy for him. Great kid who has worked really hard to be up here, and it’s not easy at his height to do the things that he’s able to do.”
“He makes this ballpark look like a little league ballpark,” Goose Gossage said while watching batting practice. “I hope he sustains it. I hope that he builds on it. There’s no place like playing in New York.”
Both Posada and Tino Martinez said they haven’t witnessed a player with the type of power Judge possesses. Posada specifically referenced the 495-foot bomb Judge hit to left field in the Bronx earlier this month.
“I haven’t seen him hit in batting practice. I heard he puts on a show. So hopefully he'll be a Home Run Derby guy this year, to see that power,” Posada said. “Even the
home run he hit way up there — you’ve never seen that before, where the balls are landing now.”
“I haven’t seen anybody with that kind of power,” Martinez said. “Darryl Strawberry had power. But Aaron Judge. For a guy to hit the ball so far to all fields is incredible.”
Judge leads the majors with 26 home runs. He went 2-for-3 with two walks and two runs in Sunday’s 7-6 loss to the Rangers.
“It’s pretty impressive,” Martinez said. “When the season started you would have said, ‘If he hits 25, 26 home runs, it’s a great year.’ He’s already there, so I think he’s really found himself as a player. He’s got really good command of the strike zone now. And he knows all he has to do is put the bat on the ball and it’s going to go.”
Martinez is equally impressed with how Judge has dealt with the success.
“I’ve seen him in the minor leagues the last couple of years, and I know what kind of person he is,” Martinez said. “He’s handled it perfectly. He’s just a very humble guy. None of this is going to his head. He knows it’s all about the next day. He’s going out there, working hard, and I’m not surprised at all how he’s handled everything.”
Posada also offered his thoughts on another one of the Yankees’ baby bombers, catcher Gary Sanchez.
Posada is most impressed by Sanchez’s strength and his rocket arm. “He’s going to be durable because his body is just put together real well,” Posada said. “So I just hope that he stays hungry, and during the offseason, I want him to commit himself to this game. And the things that he’s able to do during the offseason (are) going to help him during the season.”
Posada believes Sanchez has the physical tools to become one of the best catchers in baseball.
“When you’re able to put (up) numbers like he can, he will be,” the former catcher said.