AIMING AT THE MONSTER
Judge out to have a blast at Fenway
BOSTON — Aaron Judge has taken on the Green Monster before. But this time, it actually counts. The Yankees’ 24-year-old rookie slugger will make his Fenway Park debut as a major-leaguer tonight, and he’s certainly looking forward to the opportunity.
“Having the chance to play in front of a packed house is going to be awesome,” said Judge, who gets the pleasure of facing reigning AL Cy Young award winner Rick Porcello tonight and five-time All-Star Chris Sale on Thursday. “I’m looking forward to the Red Sox atmosphere.”
Judge had the opportunity to take batting practice at Fenway in the summer of 2012 when he was playing in the Cape Cod League prior to his junior season at Fresno State. He put on a strong display, which partly contributed to why the Yankees decided to take him with their third first-round pick in the 2013 MLB draft.
“It was pretty cool,” Judge recalled. “We were in a rush because there was a time constraint, but I enjoyed every minute of it.”
He even put a couple over the Monster.
“It’s fun (taking aim at it), but I try not to worry about that,” Judge said. “A lot of guys are focused on hitting it over, but I just try to keep my same approach, and good things
will happen.”
The 6-foot-7 Judge got somewhat familiar with the odd configuration in right field which features Pesky’s Pole, some short walls and odd caroms because the Red Sox spring training ballpark in Fort Myers, Fla. is arranged similarly. Still, it could be an adventure, which is why he’ll do a pregame scouting report with bench coach Rob Thomson.
Judge, who has six homers, 13 RBI and a .983 OPS, is excited to play in the historic ballpark.
“Just the history, the guys who came before us and played on these fields,” Judge said. “And now I’m getting a chance to step out there and do the same thing, it’s an honor. Not too many people get to do that.”
Joe Girardi thinks Judge will handle the hostile atmosphere just fine.
“He’s handled everything that’s been put in front of him, including challenges that he had to get better,” Girardi said. “I’m sure it’ll be enjoyable, his first time. He’ll look back on it and say, ‘Wow, that was pretty neat.’ But I think he’ll handle it fine. He’s pretty even-keeled.”
Girardi is looking forward to seeing how Judge does against the Big Green Wall in left field.
“It’ll be fun to watch. He can (hit one over) more than once if he wants,” Girardi joked. “I think that sometimes guys can get a little bit too excited, but I think it plays well for left-handers because it makes you stay on the ball, and you just have to make sure your righties don’t overswing.”
Judge said he didn’t get much of a taste of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry growing up because he lived in California and was always watching plenty of his favorite slugger Barry Bonds, Jeff Kent and the rest of the Giants with his dad.
The Yankees are about to embark on a stretch of eight consecutive games against AL East opponents.
“You can’t win a division in April, but you can definitely lose it,” Judge said, speaking to the importance of the stretch.