Yankees' Aaron Judge Named 2022 AP Male Athlete of the Year; Set AL Home Run Record

The Associated Press male athlete of the year was named on Friday after Judge set a home run record.

Judge beat out Ohtani and Curry to win the award.

It's amazing. Judge said he was amazed by his selection. The other great athletes that impacted the game and their sport, as well as their communities and the culture in the sports world, were all included. It's an honor to be on that list.

A group of winners include former Yankees Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. Major League Baseball players who have won the honor this millennium include Jose Altuve, Madison Bumgarner and Barry Bonds.

Judge slashed.311/.450/.686 with 62 home runs and 131 runs scored in 157 games. He was a four-time All-Star, a three-time Silver Slugger award winner, and a first-time winner of the American League's Most Valuable Player award.

He was the top hitter in the majors with 131 runs.

There were questions about whether he would re-sign with the Yankees after he became a free agent. Judge agreed to a nine-year, $360 million deal with the Pinstripes after several teams offered him.

The Yankees went on to name him the 16th captain in franchise history, and the first since the departure of the club's captain from 1995 to 2004.

He has been with the Yankees for seven years. He wants to win a World Series in the upcoming campaign. The Yankees will be one of the teams to beat this year.