⚾ Why Judge is MLB's 'Best Player in the World'

Aaron Judge is more than a home run hitter. He might be the best player in baseball. [View in browser]( [FOX SPORTS INSIDER WITH MARTIN ROGERS] In today’s FOX Sports Insider with guest writer Deesha Thosar: Aaron Judge is not just a power hitter, he is perhaps the best player in the world … Where do the positional groups for the Eagles rank in the NFC East? … and more! NEW YORK — Aaron Judge initially fooled us. When he set the rookie record for home runs with 52 in 2017, we incorrectly thought Judge was just a home run hitter. Despite his underlying numbers suggesting otherwise, we falsely believed his future success in the sport was wholly tied to his ability to deposit balls over the fence. But Joe Girardi knew better. "You can talk about the home runs and the RBIs, but it's the on-base and the baserunning and the defense," the Yankees' then-manager said of Judge in 2017. "The complete package is what we've got from him." Of course, there are a ton of (clutch) home runs in that package. His latest saved the Yankees on Tuesday from a series-opening loss to the Orioles, who sit just above New York in the standings. The Yankees trailed by a run and were down to their last two outs when Judge demonstrated just how brilliant he is with his bat. Despite an 0-2 count against elite closer Félix Bautista, Judge put a full swing on a hanging cutter and sent it into the left-field bleachers to tie the game in the ninth inning. That those closest to him expected as much from Judge says it all. "No one was surprised," said Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe, whose sacrifice fly in the 10th clinched a 6-5 victory. "Everything he does, he makes look easy." Or, as Yankees manager Aaron Boone put it: "He’s the best player in the world right now, and he continues to show you why all the time." And from day one. Judge's all-encompassing talent has been on display since his first full season, when he joined Ted Williams to become only the second rookie in MLB history to record at least 100 RBIs, 100 runs and 100 walks. He was also baseball's only player that year with at least 40 home runs and nine steals. Lost in last year's historic 62-homer season was the fact he swiped a career-high 16 bases. For the rest of the story, [click here.]( [STORY IMAGE 1] [IN OTHER WORDS] - The defending NFC champion Eagles are loaded across multiple positions. Ralph Vacchiano examines [how they stack up]( against the Cowboys, Giants and Commanders. - After a nightmarish season with the Rams, Bobby Wagner is back in Seattle to lead a [defense that was revamped]( to compete with the 49ers, writes Eric Williams. - Based on form alone, Folarin Balogun [should be the favorite to start]( for the United States at striker in the Nations League semifinal against Mexico in June, Doug McIntyre writes. - The beloved sports video game is returning in 2024, but who should be on the cover? From Nick Saban to Caleb Williams, RJ Young [breaks down the top options](. For the latest news and updates, [click here.]( [VIEWER'S GUIDE] Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves (MLBN, 7:20 p.m. ET) Zack Wheeler takes the hill for the Phillies while Charlie Morton takes the ball for the Braves in a battle of NL East foes. Vegas Golden Knights at Dallas Stars (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET) The Golden Knights look to make quick work of the Stars and earn a Stanley Cup Finals berth when they clash in Dallas. Miami Heat at Boston Celtics (TNT, 8:30 p.m. ET) Jimmy Butler and the Heat aim to close out the series and earn an NBA Finals berth when they collide with Jayson Tatum and the Celtics in Boston. For all of today's games and scores, [click here](. [BET OF THE DAY] Odds provided by [FOX Bet]( Houston Gamblers to win the 2023 USFL Championship (+550) From FOX Sports College Football Analyst: RJ Young Quarterback Kenji Bahar is one of the league’s most improved players from last year. His relationship with former Ball State wideout Justin Hall has made the Houston passing attack credible. Coupled with defensive coordinator Chris Wilson’s defense, the Gamblers have become formidable. Moreover, with running back Mark Thompson in the lineup, the Gamblers are undefeated. Houston has already surpassed last year’s win total and can be the first team to win five straight this season with a win on Sunday. For the latest betting odds, [click here](. [FOLLOW FOX SPORTS] [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [YouTube]( [Instagram]( Download FOX Sports App: [Fire TV]( [Roku]( [Google Play]( [App Store]( [Fire TV]( [Roku]( [App Store]( [Google Play]( Also available on these devices: [fireTV | AppleTV | ROKU | Google Chromecast | XBOX ONE | SAMSUNG Smart TV | Vizio | LG Smart TV] [fireTV | AppleTV | ROKU | Google Chromecast | XBOX ONE | SAMSUNG Smart TV | Vizio | LG Smart TV] Trademark & Copyright Notice: ™ and © 2023 Fox Media LLC and FOX Sports Interactive Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Please do not reply to this message. If you do not wish to receive emails like this in the future, please [unsubscribe](. FOX Sports respects your privacy. Click [here]( to view our Privacy Policy. Fox.com Business & Legal Affairs - Manager Digital Media P.O. 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