Aaron Judge hitting leadoff may be more than just a spring training gimmick.
Speaking with George A. King III of the New York Post over the weekend, first-year New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone discussed the decision to experiment with Judge at the leadoff spot, which he has done as a strategic gambit against left-handed pitchers for one game already this spring.
“About halfway between Fort Myers and here, actually, and looking at the first series, I have been poring over the lineups a little bit for that first series in Toronto and knowing their rotation, combination-wise, I think it makes a lot of sense,” said Boone. “Splitting up our lefties, three apart, kind of neutralizes a specialist. It is something I think kind of could work. As I was working through different combinations to try to give each guy the best protection and the best match-up potential, I think that way makes a little bit of sense.
“If I wanted to do something like that in the regular season, I at least wanted to introduce it because obviously it’s a story and get that part out of the way,” he added.
Boone also would not rule out the possibility of Judge hitting leadoff on Opening Day against Toronto Blue Jays lefty J.A. Happ on Mar. 29.
“I might, I don’t know,” he said.
The right-handed-hitting Judge, who led the American League in home runs as a rookie last season, hit leadoff in a 5-0 Grapefruit League loss to the Boston Red Sox earlier this week. He went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts.
The pros and cons of placing the All-Star slugger at that spot go both ways. Judge’s imposing 6-foot-7 frame combined with his elite ability to get on base would put immense pressure on an opposing pitcher right away. But it would also have him batting with nobody on, batting after the team’s weakest hitters, or both. Still, this is an idea Boone has been considering for some time now, and the odds are increasing that it sees the light of day in the regular season.
