Prospect Judge tapping into power in Class A
Outfielder goes yard for third straight game; Katoh also goes deep for Charleston
Outfielder Aaron Judge, the Yankees' No. 8 prospect, homered for the third straight game Monday, but Class A Charleston lost at Hickory, 9-6.
Judge finished the game 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs. Second baseman Gosuke Katoh, the Yankees' No. 10 prospect, also homered for the RiverDogs.
Judge was the second of the Yankees' three picks in the first round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft, but he didn't make his professional debut until this spring due to a quad injury. He hasn't shown any ill effects from his late start. In 55 games this season, he is hitting .321 with a .931 OPS.
Judge was known for his power while he was at Fresno State, but he went homerless in the first two weeks of his professional career and ended April with just two home runs. He has found his power stroke since and now ranks sixth in the South Atlantic League with eight homers.