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Before Aaron Judge was the face of the Yankees, he was just another face – quite literally.
During his incredible 2017 rookie season, Judge sat in New York’s bustling Bryant Park for a Jimmy Fallon segment merely wearing a pair of glasses as a disguise.
With just the frames on, the outfielder was able to fool unsuspecting Yankees fans he spoke to into thinking he was just another MLB devotee – and his face wasn’t the only thing they were forgetting.
‘Adam Judge,’ one fan responded when Judge flashed a picture of himself. ‘I think he’s gonna be a superstar.’
To many, such a mistake might have been a blow to their ego. But Judge seemed to revel in the anonymity that he was then afforded.
Still, five years, and one record-breaking rookie season later, the baseball star has proven that fan’s prediction to be true. Judge, 30, is now one of the most successful athletes in the MLB.
But while he has gained the kind of sporting superstardom that many can only dream of – he has also lost the anonymity that he enjoyed as an unknown rookie, no doubt something of a tough pill to swallow for a man who protects his privacy so fiercely.
The bright lights of sporting stardom are a world away from the small California town where Judge was raised by his adoptive parents, schoolteachers who welcomed him into their home when he was just two days old, and with whom he is known to be extremely close, even now.
While Yankees player Aaron Judge may be one of the most successful athletes in the MLB, the sports star has done his best to lead a very private life when he steps off the field, leading many to wonder – who exactly is he?
The pro athlete is currently at the top of the league with the most home runs of the season, and is just four away from tying the all time record, but Judge’s sudden stardom has come at the ultimate price – his privacy
As he is skyrocketed to fame, DailyMail.com has lifted a lid on his road to pro athlete, as well as his struggle to keep his personal life out of the spotlight, including his marriage to hometown sweetheart Samantha Bracksieck
They were by his side as he made the decision to pursue baseball – having also shown great promise in basketball and football as a youngster – and on the rare occasions that he speaks about their relationship, it is with nothing but glowing praise and admiration.
It was in his hometown of Linden where Judge also met his wife, Samantha Bracksieck, with whom he tied the knot in an incredibly intimate ceremony in Hawaii in December, with just a small group of close personal friends and family in attendance.
The secrecy behind the nuptials, and the very close-knit group of guests couldn’t have been in greater contrast to Judge’s career. On the field, in front of thousands of fans, he is the ultimate showman. Yet, when it comes to his personal life and family, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
In the five years since he shot into the spotlight with his record-breaking rookie season, Judge has attempted to guard his private life closely, offering fans just a few small glimpses into his world away from the Yankees stadium, both in interviews and on Instagram.
Now, the 30-year-old is swinging his away through another historic season, earning a league-leading 57 home runs with 19 games left to play; four more would tie the AL record set by another Yankee, Roger Maris, in 1961.
So how did a small-town student torn between three sports turn into the star of the MLB?
As Judge continues to hit the ball out of the park, take a look into the inspirational and fascinating personal story behind his record-breaking success.
During his 2017 rookie season, Judge sat in New York’s bustling Bryant Park for a Jimmy Fallon segment in which he disguised himself by wearing a pair of glasses (seen) and interviewed baseball fans in an attempt to see if they’d recognize him
With just the frames on to hide his identity, the outfielder was able to trick unsuspecting Yankees fans into thinking he was just an MLB devotee. To many, such a mistake might have been a blow to their ego – but Judge seemed to revel in the anonymity
Where it all began: Inside Judge’s childhood, which saw him adopted at two days old by teacher parents – and torn between his talents in basketball, football, and baseball
While Judge is now arguably one of the greatest players in the sport, it wasn’t always a foregone conclusion that he’d even pursue pro baseball.
While attending Linden High School in California, Judge excelled as a three-sport athlete, dominating in baseball – as well as football and basketball too.
On the baseball field, he hit a .500 average and also thrived as a pitcher during his senior year. He was also a star football player – and caught 17 touchdowns as a senior, setting a single-season school record while also recording 969 receiving yards.
When it came to basketball, Judge was a force as well. Growing into a six-foot-six, 205 pound frame by his sophomore year, according to Bleacher Report, he would go on to be named an all-state center as a senior.
But despite his basketball prowess, and the many football recruiting offers he received from powerhouses like Stanford and Notre Dame, Judge eventually settled on the sport he now excels at – baseball.
‘Growing up I always thought I’d be a basketball player because I was so tall,’ he told local newspaper The Record after graduating from high school.
When Judge was just two days old, he was adopted by his parents – school teachers Patty and Wayne – something he didn’t find out about until he was age 10
However, the Yankee has spoke highly of his adoptive parents, stating that he is ‘blessed’ to have the pair in his life during a 2015 interview. He is seen with his wife and adoptive parents at All-Star Weekend in LA earlier this year
‘When it came to my junior year, I started getting a lot of letters for football. But once … I started going to a lot of baseball camps I knew this is what I’m going to go with.’
And while he spent much of his time focusing on sports, Judge explained to MLB.com that his parents ensured he also spent time on his education.
While attending Linden High School as a teen in California, Judge excelled as a three-sport athlete, dominating in baseball – as well as football and basketball too
‘They wanted me to always make sure I put education first and make sure I prioritized everything,’ he said. ‘If I was going to make plans, [the made sure I stuck] to them. [They made] sure I was on a tight schedule and made sure I didn’t miss anything. It’s helped me try to live to a higher standard.’
While he recognized the positive impact it has had on him now, Judge wasn’t always a fan of their strict parenting style.
He continued: ‘I wanted to go outside and play with my friends or play some video games, but they were tough on me.
‘They’d say, “Hey, you’ve got homework to do. You’ve got to finish your math homework and science homework. Then if you have time left over before dinner, you can go play.” Something like that. I didn’t like it as a kid, but looking back on it, I really appreciate what they did for me.’
Judge would go on to star at Fresno State before eventually working his way through the Yankees minor league system up to the majors.
But to reduce Judge’s journey to a classic grit-and-grind sports tale would be to ignore another major fortune in his life, one that came far before his big league exploits.
When Judge was just two days old, he was adopted by his parents – school teachers Patty and Wayne – something he didn’t find out about until he was age 10.
But despite his basketball prowess, and the many football recruiting offers he received from powerhouses like Stanford and Notre Dame, Judge eventually settled on the sport he now excels at – baseball. He is seen in September 2022
‘I think it was like, “I don’t look like you, Mom. I don’t look like you, Dad. Like, what’s going on here?”‘ he recalled.
‘They just kind of told me I was adopted. I was like, “OK, that’s fine with me. You’re still my mom, the only mom I know. You’re still my dad, the only dad I know.”‘
‘Nothing really changed. I honestly can’t even remember too much, because it wasn’t that big of a deal. They just told me I was adopted, and I said, “OK, can I go outside and play?”‘
The Yankee has continuously spoke highly of his adoptive parents, stating that he is ‘blessed’ to have the pair in his life during a 2015 interview.
‘I feel they kind of picked me,’ Aaron told the New York Post. ‘I feel that God was the one that matched us together.’
‘We’re more blessed than he is,’ mom Patty gushed of Aaron. ‘Really, it was all meant to be.’
And after he broke into the sport, he later reflected on how his mom Patty helped him get to that point. He told MLB.com in 2017: ‘I know I wouldn’t be a New York Yankee if it wasn’t for my mom.
‘The guidance she gave me as a kid growing up, knowing the difference from right and wrong, how to treat people and how to go the extra mile and put in extra work, all that kind of stuff. She’s molded me into the person that I am today.’
Judge has never had any contact with his biological parents, and has another adopted brother, John, 36, who lives in Korea teaching English.
Judge’s sports breakthrough: How he went from a high school athlete to a pro baseballer in a matter of years – while attempting to keep his personal life out of the spotlight
During his 2017 rookie season, he broke many records – he hit a home run with the fastest exit velocity in history at the time and earned recognition for hitting the longest home run of the season. He is seen in 2020
While attending California State University, Fresno, shined. He helped his team win the WAC Tournament in 2011, and lead the team in home runs, doubles, and RBIs.
He was drafted by the Yankees minor league in 2013, and he then signed a $1.8 million contract, however, he suffered from an injury and wasn’t able to participate that season.
But while he rose in popularity, Judge (seen in 2020) did his best to keep his personal life out of the spotlight. He rarely did interviews and has less than 250 posts on his Instagram account, most of which pertain to the sport
He played for the Yankees minor leagues from 2014 until 2016, when he was promoted to the major leagues. During his 2017 rookie season, he broke many records – he hit a home run with the fastest exit velocity in history at the time and earned recognition for hitting the longest home run of the season.
He also broke the record for the most home runs hit in one season with a whopping 52, surpassing Babe Ruth, who previously held the title.
By 2019, he became the third-fastest MLB player to hit 100 home runs and had the highest exit velocity average of the entire major leaguers, at 95.9 mph.
But while he rose in popularity, Judge did his best to keep his personal life out of the spotlight. He rarely did interviews and has less than 250 posts on his Instagram account, most of which pertain to the sport.
The 30-year-old lives a super low-key life off the baseball diamond, avoiding bars and nightclubs and successfully steering clear of the gossip columns.
The one thing we do know about Judge is that he is dedicated to giving back, as he told The Record in 2010 that one of his ‘favorite things to do’ was volunteering to pick up garbage with his high school basketball teammates.
The slugger has also provided grants to schools in New York and California through his organization, All Rise foundation, which is committed to ‘inspiring children and youth to become responsible citizens by engaging them in activities that encourage them to reach unlimited possibilities,’ according to its website.
‘His mother and I just wanted him to be a really good person,’ the athlete’s adoptive father Wayne once said about instilling good in him.
Judge has also proved to be a bit of a sneakerhead, wearing Jordans during the MLB All-Star weekend in 2021, donning custom cleats on various occasions, and even spending about $5,000 on nine pairs of sneakers in an episode of Sneaker Shopping.
‘The name of the game now is kind of designing your own cleats, putting your own little touch and design, and your own little style in the game,’ he told Complex this year of his interests in shoes.
Judge’s love life: Inside MLB star’s marriage to his notoriously private wife Samantha
Judge, who identifies himself as a Christian on his social media accounts, married his longtime girlfriend, Bracksieck (seen in Hawaii before their wedding), last December – but very little is known about their romance
The pair first dated in high school and college before eventually breaking up and later reuniting in 2019. They are seen together at the US Open
After struggling with some injuries during the 2019 and 2020 seasons, Judge had a strong 2021. He earned his 500th career hit in July 2021, making him the second fastest Yankee to get 500 hits on his 506th gram.
However, in early 2022, Judge rejected a seven-year, $213.5million extension offer from the New York Yankees – an eyewatering sum to most players but one that has ultimately proved insufficient to Judge’s value.
That decision has paid off, with Judge now reportedly in line to command a $300m contract in free agency. The Yankees, it looks like, will have to break the bank to keep their star in New York.
When asked about his future on the team by a young fan in June, Judge seemed to confirm that he was parting ways with the Yankees.
‘We got a lot of great Yankees on this team,’ he said. ‘There are a lot of great Yankees who will be here for a long time. Don’t be upset, don’t be upset, hopefully you’ll be a Judge fan for life.’
At least for now though, Judge is focused on the sport itself, and shut down interviewers when asked about his future on the team.
‘People wanna talk about contracts, that’s not what I’m playing for,’ he told MLB Network in May. ‘I’m playing to bring a championship back here to New York.’
Judge, who identifies himself as a Christian on his social media accounts, married his longtime girlfriend, Bracksieck, last December – but very little is known about their romance.
The two tied the knot in an intimate Hawaii ceremony in front of an incredibly select group of close friends and family, in an attempt to keep the event as private as possible
The pair first dated in high school and college before eventually breaking up and later reuniting in 2019.
However, Bracksieck’s ‘extreme DUI’ charge in 2020 – where she was captured on body cam footage name-dropping her famous boyfriend – put a dent into Judge’s much-valued privacy.
‘You don’t know who my boyfriend is, this is going to be so bad,’ she reportedly said. ‘My boyfriend is not in a spot where I should be, like, having this happen. He’s like a public figure. So, like, me being arrested for, like, having two glasses of wine is not OK.’
‘[Derek] Jeter was private but didn’t mind his name being out there. He was showboat private,’ a source told the New York Post after the arrest. ‘Aaron is the total opposite. He is quiet quiet. The arrest had to be a gut punch to him.’
Nonetheless, the two tied the knot in an intimate Hawaii ceremony in front of an incredibly select group of close friends and family, in an attempt to keep the event as private as possible.
The couple also made a rare public outing last week as they took in the US Open in Queens side-by-side.
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