7. Aaron Judge

All rise!

Aaron Judge came to the Bronx in August 2016 as a towering, physically imposing outfielder whose commanding presence instantly changed the layout of the field. Although he kept his rookie status into the next spring, he has since been the undisputed focal point and leading offensive force of the team from his first full season.

His early pinstripe career was marked by a stunning 2017 AL Rookie of the Year win that shook Major League Baseball. That summer, Judge made a remarkable debut, breaking records by leading the American League in home runs (52), runs(128), and walks (127), earning a Silver Slugger and finishing as MVP runner-up. He proved this was no fluke by hitting 27 homers in 2018 and 2019, demonstrating strong power despite physical setbacks that limited his playing time.

Once fully healthy, Judge secured legendary, lasting greatness by leading a historic era of dominance that transformed the modern game. In 2022, he carried the franchise alone, earning his first AL MVP after hitting a spectacular 62 home runs, an American League record that broke Roger Maris’s 61-year-old mark. He maintained this extraordinary level of performance over the following two years, peaking in a remarkable 2024 season that helped the Yankees win their first American League pennant in 15 years. That summer, he won his second MVP, leading the league with 58 home runs and 144 RBIs, while achieving career-best on-base percentage (.458) and slugging (.701).

Any worries that Judge might have a typical hangover after his intense October 2024 run were completely eliminated during an extraordinary 2025 season. At the peak of his individual performance, he overcame a mid-season flexor strain to win his first Major League Batting Title with an impressive .331 average, making him the tallest batting champion in history. He combined this hitting precision with incredible power, smashing 53 home runs and driving in 114 runs, while leading the majors in on-base percentage (.457), slugging (.688), and posting a remarkable 1.145 OPS. His historic regular season earned him the 2025 American League MVP award, his second in a row and third overall in his career.

Judge continues to ascend the ranks of the sport’s greatest, possibly ranking among the top five Yankees of all time. Aaron Judge's greatness truly stands out.