New York Yankees’ star right fielder, Aaron Judge, received the prestigious 2023 Roberto Clemente Award for his outstanding philanthropic efforts and community involvement.
The news of this unexpected honor came to him on October 20 while he was working out at home in California alongside his wife, Samantha Bracksieck.
Apparently, Jason Zillo, the VP of Communications and Media Relations for the New York Yankees called up Aaron Judge to inform the good news.
However, ahead of receiving the news of a major milestone, Judge couldn’t help but wonder if this call signaled a significant trade or perhaps some unexpected news about the team.
“You got a minute? This is very important,” Judge recalled Zillo saying.
“Is there a trade going on?” Judge wondered. “What’s going on? Something important?”
Realizing Judge’s curiosity, Zillo instructed Judge to take a seat and then shared the incredible news that he had been chosen as the recipient of MLB’s Roberto Clemente Award.
We are proud to announce that Aaron Judge is the winner of the 2023 Roberto Clemente Award, baseball’s most prestigious individual honor. pic.twitter.com/M5UfYCr4Gl
— MLB (@MLB) October 30, 2023
For Judge, he hadn’t anticipated such an honor, mistakenly assuming that the call was regarding team matters.
It has been reported by MLB Analyst Andy Martino that the New York Yankees and the San Diego Padres have engaged in preliminary discussions regarding the acquisition of the outfielder, Juan Soto.
Soto, a 25-year-old phenom, finds himself on the precipice of free agency, with his impending contract negotiations.
While the Padres are not actively shopping their prized asset, they are also not categorically ruling out the possibility of parting ways with the young star.
Thus, when Aaron Judge received the call from the Yankees’ media relations, he might have pondered the possibility of Juan Soto wearing the legendary Yankees uniform.
Aaron Judge’s exemplary work was primarily recognized through his charity, the ALL RISE Foundation, which he founded in 2018.
he foundation’s noble mission extends across communities in both California and New York, striving to inspire children and youth to become responsible citizens.
Judge’s philanthropic efforts have touched the lives of countless individuals and have made a large impact in shaping a brighter future for the younger generation.
Notably, Aaron Judge joins an exclusive list of Yankees legends who have previously been honored with the Roberto Clemente Award.
This distinguished group includes icons like Derek Jeter (2009), Ron Guidry (1984), and Don Baylor (1985).
Judge’s 2023 MLB season goes beyond his remarkable philanthropic endeavors, delving into his on-field performance, which comprised 106 games played, a batting average of .267, 37 home runs, and 75 RBIs.
His OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) stood at a remarkable 1.019, and he crossed the plate himself 77 times.
A historic highlight of his season was becoming the first player in Yankees history to record multiple three-homer games in a single season, achieving this feat against both the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Washington Nationals.
Aaron Judge, drafted by the Yankees in the first round of the 2013 MLB draft, made his MLB debut in 2016.
