The year Yankees star Aaron Judge unlocked his powers
Key takeaways
- Senior infielder Danny Muno has the first draft pick for the team's 2011 preseason touch football game.
- Judge is 6-foot-7, 250-some pounds, and most of the guys know by now that he was supposedly a good high school basketball and football player, too.
- He has impressed teammates with his athleticism and willingness to work, though the Bulldogs' veteran roster hasn't gotten to know him well yet.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Aaron Judge arrived at Fresno State unsure whether he was a pitcher or a hitter, or both. Within a year, the debate was over. ESPNRyan Hockensmith May 25, 2026, 08:00 AM ETClose Ryan Hockensmith is a Penn State graduate who joined ESPN in 2001. He is a survivor of bacterial meningitis, which caused him to have multiple amputation surgeries on his feet. He is a proud advocate for those with disabilities and addiction issues. He covers everything from the NFL and UFC to pizza-chucking and analysis of Tom Cruise's running ability.Follow on XMultiple AuthorsEmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsTHE CAPTAINS STAND in the outfield and take a long look at the Fresno State baseball roster standing in front of them. They're trying to figure out the answer to a strange question: Who are the best football players from this group?
Senior infielder Danny Muno has the first draft pick for the team's 2011 preseason touch football game. Fresno State has a roster full of future MLB players, with legitimate NCAA title aspirations, so Muno is choosing from about 40 elite Division I athletes. But he catches everyone off guard by pointing to a tall, unproven rookie who has been on campus for about six weeks.
"I'll take Big Ass," he says. Big Ass is a true freshman named Aaron Judge.