The verdict is in for Yankees sensation Aaron Judge

With the conclusion of the MLB awards for 2017, the case file for Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge is now complete. It will be filed away as a one of the most significant for a rookie in baseball history.

Aaron Judge first appeared in the Bronx in August of 2016. Hitting a home run in his first Yankees at-bat, he then disappointed by striking out in 42-of-82 plate appearances. The jury was hung on its decision regarding the Baby Bomber.

Spring training brought Judge to Tampa looking to secure a return trip to New York. Competing against Aaron Hicks for a starting spot, halfway through the trial, Judge was told he was behind in the case.

However, he persevered and on March 30, after posting a .985 OPS, won his first victory by being named the everyday right fielder.

By May 22, Judge had hit 15 homers and the Yankees’ organization announced the opening of the first ever player oriented seating section at the Stadium, the Judge’s Chambers. This unique section comes complete with robes, wigs, gavel and signs.

The case file grows with an unprecedented motion by the Yankees.

On July 2, Judge received another verdict in his favor when he was named to the AL All-Star team. He had also been invited to participate in the prestigious Home Run Derby. By now, he had hit 27 home runs and posted an OPS of 1.084 for May and 1.167 in July.

Judge became the first rookie to be named Home Run Derby champion by smashing 47 homers for a total of 3.9 miles, including one that hit off the roof of Marlins Park’s roof, defying the scientists at NASA who designed the specifications of the stadium to avoid that very event.

The courtroom was packed and dazzled, evaluating every piece of evidence presented. The Judge was winning his case.

Following the All-Star break, Judge returned to his work as usual but something drastically changed. He began to strike out at an alarming rate. The home runs ceased.

Many who proposed that his participation in the Home Run Derby would ruin the beautiful swing that had produced 30 homers by the break petitioned the court in protest.

Judge’s OPS for the month was .847 and August a mere .680. He struck out in a record-setting 37 straight games. The team who had been leading the AL East now had a record of 28-27 in July and August.

The attorneys were fighting for Aaron, but momentum in had swung out of his favor. Would the rookie phenom ultimately end up on the losing side?

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Enter September.

With the AL East title on the line, Judge and the Yankees pled their case. The rookie made the proper adjustments and absolutely was on fire during the month.

Judge’s OPS was an amazing 1.452. He hit 15 home runs in 27 games including two in the contest against the Royals which were his 49th and 50th to tie and surpass the 30-year rookie record set by Mark McGwire.

The shy “There’s no I in team” kid, had to be encouraged by teammates to take his first and only curtain call following his record-breaking homer at Yankee Stadium.

Judge finished the season with a rookie home run record of 52 (first in AL), an OPS of 1.049 (second in AL), OBP of .422 (second in AL), 128 runs scored (first in AL), 8.1 WAR (second in AL) and produced 114 RBIs (second in AL).

Unfortunately, he also finished first in strikeouts, but his rookie-record 127 walks elevated his OBP. The Yankees ended up finishing second in their division, with the slump Judge endured directly correlating to trailing the Red Sox.

The team was 35-16 in April and September when Judge was on his game.

Being a complete player, Judge finished the season with a .982 fielding percentage, only 5 errors in 1238 2/3 innings, 9 DRS and 6.3 UZR.

In Game 3 of the ALDS, with the score tied, he robbed Francisco Lindor of a possible two-run homer which proved to be a key factor in the Yankees advancing into the ALCS.

The jury has spoken unanimously and the decision gone his way. Judge was awarded a Silver Slugger Award, the Esurance/MLB Rookie of the Year Award, the AL Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award, was runner-up to Jose Altuve in the AL MVP, AL BBWAA Rookie of the Year and an AL Gold Glove finalist.

Aaron Judge came back from a disappointing call-up in 2016 and recovered from a crippling slump to receive the accolades he rightfully deserved, in a humble way with only his team in mind.

Following the Yankees’ Game 7 loss in the ALCS, Judge said:

“No we didn’t win the series, I’m not satisfied with that. That’s why we play. That’s why we train. That’s why we do everything in the offseason. It is to win a World Series. We came up short.”

Next: JD Martinez is the perfect DH for the Yankees

The jury only said two words. Epic. Historic.