Yankees’ Aaron Judge blasts MLB 'top 10' lists

New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge isn't much of a fan of MLB top 10 lists that were released ahead of the season. 

"I try not to look at those lists because 99 percent of the time, they’re wrong," Judge explained, as shared by Chris Kirschner of The Athletic. "It’s usually a lot of guys who haven’t played the game or they haven’t played the game in the past couple of years making those lists." 

While Judge is the reigning American League Most Valuable Player and commonly named one of the top offensive forces in the game today, Kirschner pointed out that the All-Star slugger was referring to the fact that Yankees ace Gerrit Cole was left off of multiple top 10 lists for MLB starting pitchers. Per ESPN stats, Cole finished the 2022 regular season with a league-best 257 strikeouts, and the five-time All-Star selection began the current campaign with a 2-0 record, an ERA of 0.73 and 19 strikeouts across 12.1 innings of work. 

Cole made it known somebody else in his family is more bothered than he is about the top 10 lists that were published before Opening Day. 

"My wife is probably more heated about it than me," he said. "I wouldn’t put too much stock into them though even if I was at the top. I take the same approach if I’m not at the top or on it at all. But obviously, she thinks I’m the best." 

It sounds like Judge, who has embraced his role as club captain in multiple ways this year, agrees with Amy. 

"If he’s not the best pitcher in the game, you have to show me who is because he’s something special," Judge added about Cole. "I’m glad he’s wearing pinstripes." 

Somewhat ironically, Cole offered similar comments about Judge after the 30-year-old flirted with signing with the San Francisco Giants but ultimately returned to the Yankees via a massive nine-year contract.