Aaron Judge is Leading A Wave Of New Fans To Major League Baseball Games

His presence is menacing. At 6’7” and 282 pounds, New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge steps up to the plate with a bat in hand, reminiscent of Paul Bunyan with his giant ax. A textbook swing connects with an 84 MPH curveball off of Baltimore Orioles’ righty Chris Tillman giving way to the hardest-hit home run of the Statcast era, clocking in at 121.1 mph. If watching Judge smash a ball at about the standard speed of a Lamborghini on Germany’s famed speed limitless Autobahn wasn’t enough, the 25-year-old rookie sensation broke the internet with his next home run, just one day later. When Baltimore Orioles pitcher Logan Verrett sent an 84 MPH curveball over the plate, it took him about one second to realize he had made a huge mistake. Judge launched the longest home run of 2017 and 15th longest home run in MLB history when he nailed a moonshot 496 feet.

You might assume a man of his size would be stoic after each of his blasts. But take one look at this behemoth after he trots the bases and you’ll discover the gap-toothed grin reveals a boyish charm that only a gentle giant like Aaron Judge can possess. Baseball has found its new mythic figure and he’s taking the MLB by storm. When a rookie has appeal in terms of both personality and extraordinary athletic talent, Major League Baseball must capitalize on their good fortune. And they are certainly taking advantage. At next week’s MLB All-Star Game, Judge, the leading vote-getter for the American League, will be starting in right field. Additionally, the rookie phenom will be participating in Monday’s Home Run Derby, which perhaps will be the highlight of this year’s All-Star festivities.

Under Armour, the official uniform partner for MLB starting in 2019, inked Judge to a sponsorship deal for his performance equipment including his cleats. The Yankees are directly benefiting from Judge’s presence as they are now averaging, “…an American League-best 38,536 fans at home this season, about 700 fans per game better than last year's full season average.” More fans in the stands have translated into more fans watching at home. And this year, YES retook the throne for New York viewership supremacy as they are drawing better TV ratings than their New York Mets counterparts, SNY. TV ratings for YES network are the best they have drawn since 2012.

These facts bring to mind that perhaps fan themselves are benefiting from the rise of Aaron Judge. At Yankee Stadium’s right field, a three-row, 18-seat section exists housing fake wood paneling, plus “black robes and gavels for the seat occupants,” created as a cheering section devoted to Judge. Known as “The Judge’s Chambers,” fans can sit in these seats without paying extra and eventually, the Yankees intend to give away these seats for free to kids who are involved in baseball-related activities like the Harlem RBI program. Aaron Judge is proving to be the next generation of star the Yankees always seem to find.