6’7″ Giant Aaron Judge Drew Comparisons to Slam-Dunking Blake Griffin for “Unusual” Baseball Characteristics

Published 08/12/2023, 12:00 PM EDT

The sports world’s rules dictate a good stature must be required for success. The same doesn’t hold true for baseball, though, of course, athleticism is a must. While the average height in the sport is 6 feet 2 inches, there are some that, of course, defy the norm. One of them is Aaron Judge.

Standing at 6 feet 7 inches, he is one rarity on MLB but makes for an excellent outfielder. A three-sport athlete in high school, no one would have been surprised had he chosen basketball over baseball and football. After all, NBA players are some of the tallest in the sports world, their height giving them an advantage in both offense and defense. In his early days, many even compared the New York Yankees captain to a popular power forward.

Aaron Judge Could Be Baseball’s Blake Griffin

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One of the most celebrated power forwards in the NBA, Blake Griffin, is a fixture with the Boston Celtics. One of the most influential rookies in 2011, Judge followed him into stardom 5 years later. Griffin is just 2 inches taller than the Yankee, but the two deserve adequate comparison.

David Fischer in his book Aaron Judge: The Incredible Story of the New York Yankees’ Home Run-Hitting Phenom dives into his past. Describing a few lines from an article from Baseball America, Fischer compares the two.

“Judge’s combination of size (6-foot-7, 255 pounds) and athleticism is so unusual for a baseball player that the comparison scouts make most is to NBA star Blake Griffin,” read the article. “With his leverage and strength, Judge can hit tape-measure shots most players only can dream of.”

Indeed, the absolutely massive home runs that come from the end of All-Rise’s bat have defined his career as a Yankee. Even when suffering through injuries, the raw power that Judge exhibits makes him one of the best hitters in the sport. However, right after his rookie year came some problems.

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Miracle Worker Coach That Improved Judge’s Technique

Richard Schenck was a small time coach when he got acquainted with Aaron Judge. The Teacherman from St. Peters had never played in MLB before, but his hitting tips were life changing, at least for Judge, who received extreme benefits from his tips.

Amid Toe Injury Recovery, Yankees Captain Aaron Judge May Be Back With ‘Teacherman’ Who Helped Him Become AL MVP Caliber Hitter

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From a struggling hitter to an MVP caliber hitter is a tremendous change inspired by Schenck, and Judge still lauds him for changing his life.

WATCH THIS STORY–Top 5 Most Electrifying Home Runs by New York Yankees Star Aaron Judge

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Written by:

Arunima Bhanot is an MLB writer at EssentiallySports. Her tryst with MLB was accidental, but what followed was nothing short of a pursuit of excellence. Arunima's articles have been recognized as Editor's Picks on multiple occasions, highlighting her exceptional attention to detail and insightful coverage.

Edited by:

Deepanshi Bajaj

6’7″ Giant Aaron Judge Drew Comparisons to Slam-Dunking Blake Griffin for “Unusual” Baseball Characteristics

Aaron Judge Could Be Baseball’s Blake Griffin

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Miracle Worker Coach That Improved Judge’s Technique