EVERYDAY HICKS?
ORLANDO — The verdict is in and it is unanimous. Aaron Judge is the 2017 American League Rookie of the Year, becoming the ninth Yankee to win the award, and first since Derek Jeter in 1996. The 25-year-old right fielder took Major League Baseball by storm in 2017, blasting a rookie-record 52 homers — three more than former record-holder Mark McGwire hit three decades ago. “It’s quite an honor,” Judge said after the announcement was made on Monday night. “I’m still sitting back trying to think about what happened this first year. It’s been quite a journey — from battling in spring training, to the highs and lows throughout the season, the run we had, coming up short. You dream about playing your first year in the big leagues, and I wouldn’t change a thing. It was an incredible year.” Judge had to win a competition with Aaron Hicks in the spring just to earn his starting spot and avoid a demotion to the minors. He took off from there, leading all AL players in homers (52), runs (128), walks (127) and strikeouts (208). Judge finished second in the AL in RBI (114) while triple-slashing .284/.422/.627. He sent balls into orbit at astounding distances, while also playing stellar defense and acting like an established veteran, both on and off the field. The other finalists for AL Rookie of the Year were Boston’s Andrew Benintendi and Baltimore’s Trey Mancini. Other notable Baby Bombers to win Rookie of the Year honors include Jeter, Dave Righetti (1981), Thurman Munson (1970) and Tony Kubek (1957). Judge had hit .179/.263/.345 with four homers and 42 strikeouts in an 84-at-bat cameo in 2016. But he made several adjustments in the offseason, which paid off in a big way. He also withstood a massive second-half slump and nagging shoulder issues.
Judge, who stands 6-foot-7, was selected by the Yankees in the first round of the 2013 draft (No. 32 overall). He is also a finalist for the AL MVP award, which will be announced on Thursday night. He faces stiff competition from Houston’s Jose Altuve for the honor.
Judge also won the 2017 Home Run Derby and captured an AL Silver Slugger award.
Along the way, he emerged as one of the faces of baseball.
“It’s a special time to be in the big leagues,” Judge said. “I’m just glad to be mentioned with a lot of these great guys as faces of MLB but I’m going to go out there and continue to play my game and focusing on what I can do on the field.”
Judge is already looking forward to his sophomore campaign, which he’s hoping will end even better than this season, when the Yankees made it to Game 7 of the ALCS.
“We didn’t accomplish our goal,” Judge said. “We came up short. I think I speak for all of us in the Yankees’ organization: we can’t wait to get the 2018 season started.”
POP STAR
As if Judge needed any more pop, the Yankees slugger — and runaway favorite to win the AL Rookie of the Year award Monday night — has signed a multi-year deal to be a national spokesperson for Pepsi.
“His style of play embodies fun and excitement and that’s what we’re all about,” said Justin Toman, senior director of sports marketing for PepsiCo, according to ESPN. “From his amazing catches to his monstrous home runs, whether you are a Yankee fan or not, you have to watch him. How he handles himself makes him a great ambassador for our brand and company on and off the field.”
Judge had already begun to build his brand before the beverage company’s announcement. Last week, Judge was named the cover athlete for the video game “MLB The Show ’18.”
On Monday, Judge posted an Instagram video of him strolling through Pepsi offices as the company’s newest big-name sponsor.
Terms of Judge’s deal with Pepsi were not disclosed, though Toman said the Yankee will for now be associated with regular Pepsi and not the larger brand PepsiCo, which includes Frito Lay in its business portfolio with Tostitos.
Pepsi enjoyed a 20-year run as MLB’s official soft drink until Coca-Cola took over at the start of last season.
Pepsi still maintains deals with individual teams, including the Yankees, and currently features Gary Sanchez as one of its sponsors, following partnerships with Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez. — Jake Becker
Aaron Hicks was the Yankees’ everyday centerfielder in the playoffs, leading to the obvious question: Will he play every day there next season?
That would mean no spot for Jacoby Ellsbury, who the Bombers could look to deal. The 34-year-old, though, is due $68.4 million over the next three seasons, which may make it tough.
“He’s earned the right, I think, to come to camp looking to be part of that everyday lineup,” Cashman said of Hicks. “I don’t think we’re in a position to have to say where, but based on what he did, we’re pretty excited about what he’s capable to do for us moving forward.”
PITCHING IN
Larry Rothschild, who guided the Yankees’ pitching staff to a strong 2017 season, will be back for 2018, The News confirmed.
Rothschild may also be the only coach from Joe Girardi’s staff to be retained.