After hot September,

As Aaron Judge took batting practice on Monday prior to his first career playoff game, Reggie Jackson stood close by and watched. Judge had a record-breaking rookie year, but, like Mr. October before him, he wants to make his mark when the stakes are the highest.

“Well, that’s what it’s about, postseason baseball,” Judge said. “The regular season, it’s kind of like spring training is over. This is the regular season now. This is what it’s all about. This is where those numbers that are hanging in left field (at Yankee Stadium), this is where they made a name for themselves, in the postseason. “I’m excited for this opportunity.” Judge’s 2017 campaign to date has been remarkable. After striking out in 42 of his 84 at-bats at the end of 2016 and hitting .179 with four homers, the 25-year-old right fielder made adjustments in the offseason, and narrowly won a starting job over Aaron Hicks out of spring training.

He then produced a rookierecord 52 homers along with 114 RBI, a 1.049 OPS and an 8.1 FanGraphs WAR. Judge scored 128 runs, drew 127 walks and struck out 208 times. The Bombers wouldn’t have made the playoffs without him, as he moved from the bottom of the