Tom Pennington/Getty Images
The New York Yankees haven’t had a captain since Derek Jeter in 2014, but if Aaron Judge re-signs, he could take over as captain in the Bronx.
Yankees pitcher Nestor Cortes said Saturday that if Judge returns in 2023, he should definitely serve as team captain, according to MLB.com. Bryan Hoch.
“Most of the guys in this agree with me,” Cortes said.
Yankees Videos @snyyankees
Nestor Cortes thinks Aaron Judge will be the next Yankees captain if he returns next year:
“We follow everything he does. He leads by example…he’s a great baseball player, but he’s a better human.” pic.twitter.com/9OfFbLR6BB
There have been 11 captains in Yankees history: Jeter (2003-2014), Clark Griffith (1903-1905), Kid Elberfeld (1906-1907), Willie Keeler (1908-1909), Hal Chase (1910-1912 ), Frank Chance (1913), Roger Peckinpaugh (1914-1921), Babe Ruth (1922), Everett Scott (1922-1925), Lou Gehrig (1935-1939), Thurman Munson (1976-1979), Graig Nettles (1982 -1984), Willie Randolph (1986-1988), Ron Guidry (1986-1988) and Don Mattingly (1991-1995).
The judge, who will become an unrestricted free agent this winter, was asked about the possibility of becoming a captain during an appearance on R2C2 with CC Sabathia and Ryan Ruocco in February.
“It would be an incredible honor,” Judge said (h/t Gary Phillips of Sports Illustrated). “I can’t even imagine that to be honest.”
The judge added:
“It would be an incredible honor, but honestly, nothing would ever change. I would always try to hold myself the same, try to hold myself to the highest standard, be responsible and be there for my teammates. If there’s a named captain or no named captain, I’m still going to go out there and just be Aaron Judge and try to be the best leader and teammate that I can be every single day.
After a flawless campaign in 2022 that saw him become the American League’s all-time home run leader in a single season with 62, breaking former Yankee Roger Maris’ record of 61, Judge is on course to receive a significant salary increase this winter.
He declined a $213.5 million seven-year extension offer from the Pinstripes earlier this year. Yankees president Randy Levine said last month the team would make him a competitive offer once the season is over.
“We know its value and what it means,” Levine said on The show podcast (h/t ESPN). “I don’t know what’s on his mind. All we can do is show him how much we’d like him to stay a Yankee.”
Judge spent his entire seven-year career with the Yankees and is coming off a 2022 season that saw him cut .311/.425/.686 and hit 131 RBIs in 157 games.
Considering the 30-year-old has been a leader on and off the field, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him named the next captain of one of Major League Baseball’s most historic franchises.
