Aaron Judge’s breakout season in 2017 marked his first full year in Major League Baseball after a brief stint in 2016, during which he played just 27 games. As the Yankees’ No. 5 prospect at the time, Judge entered the season with high expectations, which he ultimately exceeded by becoming one of the league’s premier power hitters and earning his first All-Star Game selection.
During the All-Star break, Judge had a conversation with former Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez, where he shared the motivation behind his remarkable improvement. Judge revealed that he used his disappointing .179 batting average from 2016 as a daily source of inspiration during the offseason. He kept notes on his phone with the batting average prominently displayed to remind himself not to repeat the same performance.
In addition to his mental preparation, Judge worked diligently to refine his swing during the offseason. These adjustments paid off significantly, as he ended the 2017 season with 52 home runs, falling just seven shy of tying Giancarlo Stanton’s league-leading total.
Judge’s stellar performance in 2017 also endeared him to Yankees fans, who embraced him as the future face of the franchise. That season, the “Judge’s Chamber” debuted at Yankee Stadium, a special section resembling a jury box where fans could show their support for the All-Star rookie. Many attendees in this section wore traditional judge’s wigs to cheer on the slugger.
Reflecting on the “Judge’s Chamber,” Judge expressed his gratitude for the fan support, saying, “It’s quite an honor. It’s something that the fans, I hope, enjoy. It’s pretty special looking up there when I’m in right field and kind of seeing that. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I’d have my own little section at Yankee Stadium.”
The 2017 season was a turning point for Aaron Judge, cementing his status as a cornerstone player for the Yankees and a fan favorite in t
he Bronx.