The All-Star Game is behind us and MLB teams will have their sights set on their path to the playoffs. One of the favorites to reach the Fall Classic is the New York Yankees, where internally in the Bronx they have a player with seven All-Star selections and two American League MVP awards: Aaron Judge. He is the perfect player the club could have hoped for to fill the shoes of the legendary Derek Jeter as team leader.
Former Yankees manager Joe Torre praised the quality of the 33-year-old when he spoke Thursday with WFAN’s Sal Licata, who claimed that Judge had many traits similar to Derek Jeter. “As an individual, he (Aaron Judge) has a lot of Derek Jeter in him, to me. It’s not about extravagance when he gets a hit, it was something he was paid for. Just his approach to the game: he doesn’t try to pull the ball. He uses the whole field, which to me is a very good sign in terms of hitting,” Joe Torre said.
Derek Jeter reveals his admiration for Aaron Judge in 2024
For the former Bronx Bombers manager, Aaron Judge’s presence is imposing when he steps up to the plate, and he doesn’t see any weakness in him, and if he does have a weak point, it’s very difficult for the pitcher to identify it. The excellence of Derek Jeter was, of course, something Joe Torre witnessed firsthand as Yankees manager. Jeter and Torre enjoyed tremendous success together in the Bronx, winning four World Series titles (1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000).
As the New York Yankees celebrated the 76th edition of Veterans Day in August 2024, former captain and five-time World Series winner Derek Jeter revealed that he was also an admirer of current captain Aaron Judge, who seemed to be “getting better and better” with each passing season.
Aaron Judge on his way to becoming a Yankees legend
Derek Jeter, one of the emblems of the New York Yankees, spoke of how happy he was to see the 33-year-old continue the “Yankee legacy”. “It’s amazing. He just seems to keep getting better and better. He has continued the legacy and tradition of Yankees superstar players. But most importantly, he’s a great representative of this organization. I enjoyed getting to know him and I’m a fan of him and what he’s accomplished,” Jeter added.
Judge is enjoying another MVP-worthy season in 2025, hitting .355 with 35 home runs and 81 RBIs. The next duels and the start of the second half of the season for the New York Yankees will be as visitors when they face the Atlanta Braves from July 18-20 in the first series after the All-Star Game.
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