The New York Yankees ushered in a new era on Saturday morning, as the final page of their past was turned over with the release of Alex Rodriguez and called up two of their top outfield prospects. Aaron Judge and Tyler Austin were called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes on Saturday and will make their major-league debuts in the Yankees' lineup later today.
Judge entered the season ranked as the No.2 prospect in New York's farm system by MLB.com, though he did fall to fourth spot after the Yankees traded away some of their key veterans for top prospect. But he remained one of the Yankees top prospects and it's deserved given the numbers he has put up in Triple-A this season.
In 93 games, Judge has hit 18 doubles, 19 home runs with 65 RBIs, a .270 batting average with a 145 wRC+ and .380 wOBA. While he doesn't profile as a great outfielder defensively, the fantasy impact is significant. FanGraphs graded his hit tool as a 50 on a 20-80 scale with a 70 raw power and potential to develop into a 60 game power.
That plays exceptionally well in Yankee Stadium, where Judge will be able to take advantage of the short fences to rocket off some home runs, more so in the long-term than now. With New York calling him up, it should also signal that Judge will become an every day player for the Yankees. He may start out as a lower-average, higher strikeout player, but he has plenty of power and it should be enough to help him climb higher in a young, developing Yankees' lineup.
Austin was not viewed as one of the Yankees' top-20 prospects in the farm system, but he has done extremely well in Triple-A this season. Since he was promoted from Double-A to Triple-A, Austin has hit 24 doubles, 13 home runs, has a .323 batting average and a ridiculous 202 wRC+ and .461 wOBA in 234 plate appearances. He may not have been a big name prospect before the season, but he has elevated his stock in a major way.
He will make his major-league debut on Saturday as the Yankees starting first baseman, a position he should see regular playing time at. Long-term he may move back to the outfield and could spend some time there this season, but for fantasy owners the focus is just on him getting at bats. He has some of the tools to be an every day guy but for now in non-keeper leagues, should be monitored before he is added to fantasy rosters.