Judge wants players to connect with fans on social media

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge has enjoyed a resurgent 2020 season after missing large chunks of 2019 due to injury.

But it's not just on-field success that he's hoping to be noticed for. Judge is looking to connect with fans over social media as a way to reach out, particularly while fans are not permitted in ballparks.

"Those little moments, those little memories you can make, I know fans never forget," Judge told Marly Rivera of ESPN. "But even us as players, that's something I always look forward to and I never forget."

Judge added that Major League Baseball could benefit from top players engaging with fans more often via social media and cited one of the world's most visible and well-known professional athletes as an inspiration.

"In baseball, a lot of our superstars aren't out there. But I think social media is going to start slowly helping us out. A lot more guys are getting on social media. A lot more are reaching out to fans, interacting.

"That's one thing I see LeBron James do a lot all the time, he's talking with fans, he's always getting the message out there, putting his opinion out there and talking with people. That's where it starts with us, just being more vocal and letting the fans see the personal side of us."

Judge is one of the most recognizable talents in baseball, and his jersey has been the top seller over the last three seasons, Rivera notes.

A two-time All-Star, Judge won the AL Rookie of the Year in 2017 after recording the rookie record for home runs at 52 (New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso then hit 53 in 2019) and finished second in MVP voting to Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve that same year.

He hit 27 homers in both 2018 and 2019 but played in only 112 and 102 games, respectively, due to injuries. He has looked like a world-beater so far in 2020, crushing an MLB-leading nine home runs with 20 RBIs and a 1.101 OPS through 17 contests.