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Baltimore Orioles v New York Yankees

Source: Mike Stobe / Getty

What do you call a 6’7,” 282 pounder who should probably be a wide receiver? The future of the New York Yankees.

Aaron Judge has been all over the news lately as the 25-year-old Yank leads the American League in batting average, home runs, and slugging percentage in his first full season. Not only is he the future of the Yankees franchise, but he’s also looking a lot like the heir apparent to the newly retired gawd Derek Jeter.

Despite his meteoric rise, Judge wasn’t touted as an up and coming leader of the league right off the bat. In the midst of his climb, learn five fast facts about New York’s next at bat.

He was adopted.

New York Yankees v Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Source: Sean M. Haffey / Getty

He was born on April 26, 1992, and was adopted a day later in Linden, Calif. by teachers Patty and Wayne Judge. The slugger credits his mother with most of his success, saying, “She’s molded me into the person that I am today.”

Despite never meeting his biological parents, Judge is more than content with his adoptive parents.

“Some kids grow in their mom’s stomach; I grew in my mom’s heart,’’ Judge told Newsday. “She’s always showed me love and compassion ever since I was a little baby. I’ve never needed to think differently or wonder about anything.’’

He’s also got an older brother, John, who’s also adopted. And like his parents, he’s a teacher.

 

He hit the farthest home run… ever.

Baltimore Orioles v New York Yankees

Source: Mike Stobe / Getty

We already knew that Judge could crack a ball really far. He’s been doing it all season. But just a few weeks ago he showcased peak athleticism by hitting a 495-foot homerun against Baltimore Orioles reliever Logan Verrett in the sixth inning. Nearly 500 feet is pretty far, right? Well, it turns out it was the longest since ESPN began tracking distance in 2009. According to Statcast, Judge hit the ball at 119 MPH. Oh, and he hit another homer at his very next at bat.

He was a three-sport athlete in high school.

Baltimore Orioles v New York Yankees

Source: Jim McIsaac / Getty

As a California kid, Judge went to Linden High School, where he was a three-sport athlete and kicked ass in all of ’em. He played as a pitcher and first baseman for the baseball team, a wide receiver for the football team, and a center for the basketball team. Of course he’d go on to pursue baseball, but he set school records for touchdowns—22 in a season!—and points per game on the hardwood. Several colleges recruited him for football in college but he chose to stay in the dug out.

He already has his own cheering section.

Well, that was quick. Judge has been taking over since his first announced start of the season, March 17, and he’s already got his own dedicated cheering section: The Judge’s Chamber. And the set up is already pretty elaborate. Not only does the section resemble a courtroom’s jury box, but fans often dress up in judicial robes to cheer on the 25 year old. The catch is, you can’t buy tickets to chill in the section because the team selects specific fans —like community organizers, and Little League teams—and their families to sit in the seats. #AllRise

Stats on stats on stats…

New York Yankees v Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Source: Sean M. Haffey / Getty

We weren’t kidding when we said Judge was killing shit. The kid is leading the American League in batting average, home runs, and slugging percentage. And it’s only his first full season in the majors. If he keeps it up, he could snag the Rookie Of The Year award and help the pinstripes make a deep playoff run. Sensational.