Photos: Aaron Judge through the years in MiLB
The biggest drama of the 2022 offseason turned out to not be that much of a surprise: American League MVP Aaron Judge agreed to stay in New York with the Yankees, the only team he's known since he was drafted in 2013. Judge's meteoric rise from first-round pick out of
The biggest drama of the 2022 offseason turned out to not be that much of a surprise: American League MVP Aaron Judge agreed to stay in New York with the Yankees, the only team he's known since he was drafted in 2013. Judge's meteoric rise from first-round pick out of Fresno State to his American League-record 62-homer season in 2022 helped earn him a massive nine-year, $360 million contract that gives him another impressive title: the highest-paid position player of all time.
Yankees fans could have only dreamed of that scenario when Judge took the field in April 2014 with the Class A Charleston RiverDogs, the Bronx Bombers' South Atlantic League affiliate that season. Judge wore No. 35 after debuting in Spring Training with No. 80 on his back. His number changed a few times over the course of his development -- he wore No. 49 with the Tampa Yankees, slid over to No. 47 in the Arizona Fall League and then No. 55 with Double-A Trenton before suiting up in his familiar No. 99 by the time he reached Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Take a look back at the journey that began in the spring of 2014:
Danny Wild is an editor for MiLB.com.
Winquest Whiffs Nine, Chiefs Clobber Dragons
PEORIA, IL - Chiefs starter Cade Winquest dialed up a career night in Saturday’s 6-1 victory over the Dayton Dragons. Winquest tossed five scoreless innings and punched out a career-high nine batters. The nine strikeouts were the most by a Chiefs hurler this season and the most since Brycen Mautz
Dragons Upend Chiefs in Extra-Inning Tilt
PEORIA, IL - The Peoria Chiefs put the tying and winning runs on base in the bottom of the 10th inning Friday but a strikeout ended the threat in a 6-5 Dayton winner at Dozer Park. With the game tied at three in the top of the tenth, John Michael
Dragons Blank Chiefs on Thursday
PEORIA, IL - The Peoria Chiefs were on the wrong end of a pitcher's duel Thursday night at Dozer Park, falling 1-0 to the Dayton Dragons. Both starting pitchers were dominant. Chiefs right-hander Darlin Saladin tossed five scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out five. Dayton’s Luke Hayden
Paige Does the Heavy Lifting in 3-2 Win
PEORIA, IL –The Peoria Chiefs won their fourth straight game Wednesday night at Dozer Park, edging the Dayton Dragons 3-2 behind a three-RBI performance from Trey Paige. Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Chiefs put two on with two outs. Paige delivered the go-ahead blow, ripping
Historic Home Run Barrage Fuels Chiefs Win
PEORIA, IL – The Peoria Chiefs launched a franchise-record seven home runs Tuesday afternoon in a rain-shortened, 12-5 series-opening win over the Dayton Dragons at Dozer Park. Joshua Baez and Zach Levenson each homered twice, leading an offensive explosion that featured five different Chiefs going deep. Baez’s second homer, a
Espinoza Records 200th Win Behind Lin's Gem
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – In what was just his second High-A start, Chen-Wei Lin whiffed six batters over three spotless innings to lift the Chiefs to a 7-1 win and skipper Roberto Espinoza to his 200th career win. Espinoza, in his first season with the Chiefs, began his managerial career
Peoria Holds off Cedar Rapids, 6-5
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – The Chiefs bullpen twirled six innings of one-run baseball Saturday night to knock off the Cedar Rapids Kernels 6-5 at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Peoria never trailed on Saturday, but had to navigate traffic on the bases throughout the contest. The Chiefs made timely pitches when they
Culpepper, Kernels Ambush Chiefs on Friday
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Kaelan Culpepper, a 2024 first-round selection by the Minnesota Twins, lived up to his billing and stole the show Friday in a 13-2 Kernels win over the Chiefs. The No. 4 prospect in the Twins system, Culpepper recorded four hits and launched a pair of home
Chiefs Drop Slugfest to Kernels Thursday
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – The Cedar Rapids Kernels defeated the Peoria Chiefs 15-7 on Thursday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium in a game that featured 32 total hits. Cedar Rapids exploded for 18 hits in the win, with every Kernels starter collecting at least one hit. Two six-run innings and
Paige Powers Chiefs to Extra-Inning Win, 7-6
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Less than 24 hours after scoring their largest comeback win of the season, the Chiefs claimed another thriller Wednesday, knocking off Cedar Rapids 7-6 in 11 innings on the strength of a two-run homer from Trey Paige. After Benjamin Arias wiggled out of a jam in
Chiefs Stun Kernels Behind Eight-Run Eighth
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – In a game that featured 23 runs and 31 hits, the Peoria Chiefs opened their six-game series in Cedar Rapids with a wild 13-10 win, powered by an explosive eight-run eighth inning. Trailing 9-5 entering the eighth, Peoria sent 13 batters to the plate and erupted
Peoria Rally Falls Just Short in 5-4 Defeat
PEORIA, IL – The Peoria Chiefs battled back from an early deficit on Sunday but came up short in a 5-4 loss to Wisconsin. The ninth inning proved crucial in what was a one-run contest. With Wisconsin leading 4-3 in the top of the frame, Daniel Guilarte hit a high
Cho, Tarlow Usher Chiefs to 9-5 Victory
PEORIA, IL – Won-Bin Cho and Graysen Tarlow combined for four hits and six RBIs on Saturday to lead the Chiefs to a 9-5 triumph over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at Dozer Park. All told, Cho was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and two runs scored. Tarlow tied a
Chiefs Double up Timber Rattlers, 8-4
PEORIA, IL – The Peoria Chiefs turned in a complete effort on Friday, racking up 13 hits in an 8-4 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. All nine Peoria starters recorded a hit, including Bryce Madron, who recorded a career-high three hits in the win. Joshua Baez and Ian Petrutz
Wisconsin Inches Past Peoria on Thursday
PEORIA, IL – In what was a tight ballgame on Thursday, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers did just enough to best the Peoria Chiefs 3-2 at Dozer Park. With the game tied at two in the seventh inning, Eduardo Garcia delivered a two-out single up the middle to vault the Timber
Pitching Powers Chiefs Past Timber Rattlers, 3-1
PEORIA, IL – The Peoria Chiefs pitched their way past the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Wednesday afternoon to record a 3-1 win at Dozer Park Just a day after walking 15 Wisconsin batters, Chiefs starter Jose Davila gave the club a much-needed gem. The 22-year-old tossed five scoreless innings to
Bullpen Struggles Doom Chiefs on Tuesday
PEORIA, IL – The Peoria Chiefs fell on Tuesday in the series opener to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, 14-9, after a seven-run seventh inning by Wisconsin. The Chiefs held leads of 5-0 and 8-3 but the bullpen could not keep the home club in front. Peoria pitching issued 15 walks
Chiefs Fall Despite Late Push Against Beloit
PEORIA, IL – A furious eighth-inning rally brought the Peoria Chiefs within striking distance on Sunday afternoon, but the Beloit Sky Carp held on for an 11-7 win at Dozer Park in the series finale. Down 10-2 entering the bottom of the eighth inning, Peoria sent ten men to the
Chiefs Take Advantage of Beloit Miscues, Win 6-2
PEORIA, IL – The Peoria Chiefs secured their second consecutive win Saturday night, capitalizing on five Beloit errors in a 6-2 win at Dozer Park. The Chiefs jumped out early in the bottom of the first inning. Back-to-back singles from Jon Jon Gazdar and Joshua Baez set the table, and
Rincon Dazzles in Nightcap, Chiefs Split Doubleheader
PEORIA, IL - The Peoria Chiefs and the Beloit Sky Carp split a twin bill on Friday at Dozer Park. Beloit used a sensational diving grab from shortstop Payton Green to escape with a 4-3 win in game one. In game two, the Chiefs got a measure of revenge, winning
Chiefs-Sky Carp Postponed on Thursday
PEORIA, IL - Due to wet grounds, Thursday’s contest between the Peoria Chiefs and the Beloit Sky Carp has been postponed. The two clubs will play a doubleheader on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. at Dozer Park. Starting pitchers for Friday’s twinbill are to be determined. Fans
Missed Chances Cost Chiefs in 4-3 Loss
PEORIA, IL - The Peoria Chiefs came up just short on Wednesday night, falling to the Beloit Sky Carp 4-3 in a game defined by missed opportunities. The two teams combined to leave 23 runners on base, including 13 by the Chiefs. Peoria had multiple chances to break the game
Sky Carp Rally Past Chiefs in Slugfest, 13-9
PEORIA, IL - A fast start wasn’t enough for the Peoria Chiefs on Tuesday afternoon, as the Beloit Sky Carp used a barrage of late offense to rally for a 13-9 win at Dozer Park. Nine unanswered runs from the fourth inning on helped the Sky Carp take the opener
Bandits Edge Chiefs in Pitchers' Duel
DAVENPORT, IA – Behind another quality pitching effort, the Quad Cities River Bandits inched past the Chiefs 2-1 on Sunday. The River Bandits, who lead all of Minor League Baseball in ERA, held Peoria to just three hits in the series finale. Over the course of the week, Quad Cities
Salazar's Heroics Deliver Chiefs to 2-1 Win in Extras
DAVENPORT, IA – The Peoria Chiefs needed a feel-good win and they got one on Saturday. Johnfrank Salzar’s go-ahead double in the top of the 10th inning vaulted the Chiefs to the lead for good in a 2-1 win at Quad Cities. Peoria was staring a defeat in the face