Flying high in AFL, Bird named Player of the Week

Bird is an up-and-coming first baseman who might be next in line to take over after Mark Teixeira leaves in a few years. He divided his time between Class A Advanced Tampa and Double-A Trenton in 2014 and had a solid season.

"The way we do things is second to none. It is an honor to represent them," Bird said on Monday after learning that he had been selected as the Arizona Fall League's Player of the Week, representing the Scottsdale Scorpions. "I don't think people on the outside understand what it is like. It is something special.

"To put on the uniform -- just to wear it, just to be a part of it -- is amazing, being in the same clubhouse [in Tampa, the Yankees' spring home] where all of the older players have been is a great place to be."

The left-handed-hitting 21-year-old, ranked 11th in the Yankees' system by MLB.com, had quite a week leading up to the honor.

In four games, he hit .353, had a .421 on-base percentage, a .706 slugging percentage, a 1.130 OPS, two home runs, five RBIs, a pair of walks and three runs scored.

Entering this week's play, he was hitting .368 overall and was tied for the league lead in home runs (three), RBIs (10) and extra-base hits (six), and he was second in slugging percentage (.684) and hits (14).

Other Fall League Player of the Week nominees were Mesa Solar Sox outfielder Boog Powell (A's), Salt River Rafters infielder Rio Ruiz (Astros), Glendale Desert Dogs outfielder Scott Schebler (Dodgers) and Surprise Saguaros outfielder Nick Williams (Rangers).

Bird once was a catcher who switched to first, which he had played at various points.

He was born in Aurora, Colo., spent most of his first 10 years in Memphis before returning to Colorado. He was selected out of high school by the Yankees in the fifth round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft.

Bird has been pleased with his progress through the Yankees' system. He knew coming into the Fall League that it would be an upgrade from what he had been used to, even in Double-A.

"The talent level here is phenomenal," Bird said. "The guys are older [than I am], there is more consistency and everybody makes more plays. I knew a lot of the guys [from the Yankees' system], so it has been a smooth transition."

Bird plays two or three games at first each week and serves as the DH on other occasions.

"I want to make sure that I am prepared in whatever I'm going to be doing," he said. "[The Yankees] want you to be prepared every day, week-in, week-out, every day. That was a focus this year. They devoted the resources, used video. And their [coaching] staff really helped us."

Bird characterizes himself as a patient hitter, starting with walks. He has averaged 64 walks a season over his four Minor League campaigns, and had a career-high 107 with Class A Charleston in 2013.

"I've always tried to take a patient approach. I'd say I'm a gap-to-gap hitter, but I take what they give me. I haven't hit a lot of home runs [36 total], but I do have power," said the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Bird.

After the Fall League wraps up in mid-November, Bird said he will take a bit of time off, spending some time at Thanksgiving in San Antonio with his sister, who just gave birth to twins, and enjoying the Christmas holidays with his parents in Denver before returning to Tampa, where he makes his home.

The organization has not told Bird what it has in mind for him in 2015 -- what he does in the spring likely will have an impact -- but wherever he lands, he will have that Yankees feeling.

Don Ketchum is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Sabathia nearly '100 percent,' ready to anchor rotation

NEW YORK -- Three months removed from season-ending right knee surgery, Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia said on Tuesday that he feels "pretty much back to 100 percent" and expects to be ready for a full workload of 32 starts and 200 innings in 2015.

"My only goal is to stay healthy and get back to that -- eating up innings and being able to start every fifth day," Sabathia told reporters at a book signing in midtown Manhattan.

The 34-year-old Sabathia was at a Barnes & Noble on Tuesday afternoon promoting "CC Claus: A Baseball Christmas Story," which he co-authored with Yankees advisor Ray Negron.

Sabathia started throwing off flat ground in late September and has been working out at Yankee Stadium twice a week. He said that he plans to report to Spring Training early, ahead of the Feb. 20 official report date for pitchers and catchers.

After having an arthroscopic debridement of his knee performed in late July, Sabathia feels ready to again help lead the Yankees' rotation. He was limited to just eight starts this past season, going 3-4 with a 5.28 ERA. He did not pitch in the Majors after May 10.

"It's definitely a huge relief," Sabathia said. "I feel good enough to do all my workouts, to play catch and kind of have a normal offseason."

The Yankees have question marks in their rotation looking ahead to next season. Sabathia is coming back from injury, Masahiro Tanaka was able to make just two starts after sustaining a torn ulnar collateral ligament, Ivan Nova is not expected to be ready to return from Tommy John surgery until at least May and Hiroki Kuroda may retire.

Brandon McCarthy and Chris Capuano are among the players eligible for free agency.

"I think the rotation is going to be fine," Sabathia said. "I think they pitched great this year, [and] four of us went [on the disabled list]."

Sabathia said that he has not spoken recently with Alex Rodriguez, who will be reinstated from his season-long suspension after the World Series, but Sabathia said that he believes Rodriguez will be able to help the Yankees' lineup.

"He's a great player. He's had a year off, but he's been working and hopefully he's had some time to get healthy," Sabathia said. "Obviously, he's not going to be the A-Rod of winning MVPs, but he can come in and contribute."

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Yanks' Austin starts late rally in Fall League win

Box score

The late rally proved to be enough and Scottsdale held on for a 7-6 victory, its second against Glendale in as many days.

Tyler Austin started the Scorpions rally with a leadoff single in the eighth. The inning snowballed from there and Scottsdale batted around and scored four runs on four hits, a walk and two errors. The second error, on catcher Michael Ohlman, allowed Dante Bichette Jr. to score the go-ahead run from first base on Kelby Tomlinson's double.

Austin said even after the Scorpions fell behind early in the game, they were confident in their ability to mount a comeback.

"Nobody on the team felt like we were going to lose the game, honestly," Austin said. "We got down early and fought back made it a good game. It was a quality win."

Austin, the Yankees' No. 15 prospect, finished the day 2-for-5 with a double, a run and two RBIs. His ninth-inning double was his second extra-base hit in nine games this fall.

Austin played for Double-A Trenton during the regular season. He hit .275/.336/.419 with nine home runs in 105 games.

With Scottsdale, Austin is hitting .278/.366/.361. He said he is still making adjustments at the plate.

"It's still a process and there's still things I'm working on," Austin said. "But I feel pretty good. Just got to keep my head up and keep improving."

Tomlinson was the only other Scorpion to record two hits Tuesday. The second baseman went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a stolen base. Bichette, Austin's teammate in the Yankees' organization, added a hit and two runs.

Glendale took the lead with four runs in the second off Scottsdale starter Adam Morgan. Garabez Rosa and Nick Ramirez hit back-to-back home runs in the inning and Brewers top prospect Tyron Taylor added an RBI single. The Desert Dogs built on their lead with two more runs in the fifth.

Rosa finished the game 2-for-4 with a run and two RBIs. Shortstop Corey Seager, the Dodgers' top prospect, added two hits.

Given the early lead, Montas and Bridwell did their best to make it stand up. Montas, the White Sox No. 3 prospect, struck out three batters, walked two and allowed one run in four innings. Bridwell, the Orioles' No. 12 prospect , struck out two, walked three and also allowed one run -- his first in four games this fall - in two innings.

Austin said Montas and Bridwell did a good job keeping hitters off balance, but the Scorpions stayed confident at the plate.

"They're a couple of good pitchers hitting their spots and throwing everything for strikes," Austin said. "But we didn't give up. We kept battling and we came out on top."

This year is Austin's second trip to the AFL. His time in the league was cut short last year by wrist discomfort and he was replaced on the roster early in the fall after playing in four games.

In Austin's return to the desert this year, he is working to improve his defense in both corner outfield positions. He has mostly played right field in his career and is now learning left field, where he said he is making progress.

Mostly, however, Austin wants to win some games.

"I just want to help this team win and maybe bring home an AFL championship," he said. "You never know. But there's nothing better than winning."

Teddy Cahill is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @tedcahill. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Spring Training schedule features 16 home games

NEW YORK -- The Yankees are scheduled to play their first Spring Training game of 2015 on March 3 against the Phillies in Clearwater, Fla., and will host Philadelphia the next afternoon at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla.

The Yankees' Grapefruit League schedule, revealed on Monday, will feature a total of 33 exhibition contests, 16 of them at home. The slate includes matchups with all four American League East rivals and five night games at Steinbrenner Field.

Yankees pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to Spring Training on Feb. 20 and will hold their first workout on Feb. 21. Position players are scheduled to report on Feb. 25 and the first full-squad workout is scheduled for Feb. 26.

Games against AL East opponents are as follows: Orioles (March 28 at 1:05 p.m. ET), Rays (March 9 at 1:05 p.m. and April 1 at 1:05 p.m.), Red Sox (March 11 at 1:05 p.m.) and Blue Jays (March 17 at 7:05 p.m.).

Night games at Steinbrenner Field will include: March 6 vs. Pirates, March 12 vs. Braves, March 17 vs. Blue Jays, March 19 vs. Phillies and March 24 vs. Tigers.

The final day of Spring Training will April 3, when the Yankees will host the Nationals at 1:05 p.m. Opening Day for the regular season is scheduled for April 6 against the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium.

Season tickets for 2015 Yankees Spring Training home games are on sale now. Individual-game spring tickets will go on sale on Friday, Jan. 9 at 10 a.m. at yankees.com, the Steinbrenner Field box office, or by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.

For ticket information, fans can call (813) 879-2244 or visit www.yankees.com. This will be the Yankees' 20th Spring Training at Steinbrenner Field, which was originally named Legends Field and renamed in Steinbrenner's honor in 2008.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Roberts hangs up spikes after 14 years in Majors

Second baseman Brian Roberts is retiring, according to The Baltimore Sun.

The 37-year-old Roberts spent 13 of his 14 Major League seasons with the Orioles, the team that drafted him in 1999. He spent this past year with the Yankees, playing 91 games before being released in August.

"It was just kind of my time," Roberts told The Baltimore Sun. "There were numerous reasons that I felt like I couldn't play at a level that I was accustomed to and wanted to play at if I continued to play. I always said that I wasn't going to be the guy that tried to hang on as long as I could."

Roberts was a key cog in the Orioles' lineup for much of the 2000s before injuries derailed his career. He was a two-time All-Star with speed, totaling at least 40 doubles five times and stealing at least 20 bases seven straight years.

Roberts left the Orioles as a free agent after the 2013 season to sign with New York.

"I took, at the time, the best offer I had," Roberts told the Sun. "Do I wish in some ways that I had spent every day with the Orioles? Sure, that was a dream of mine for a long time. I don't think I ever shied away from making that pretty clear. It will always be the organization I feel like is home for me."

Roberts was a .276 career hitter with 97 home runs, 542 RBIs and 285 stolen bases.

Cash Kruth is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @cashkruth. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Inbox: How will the Yankees upgrade the rotation?

He's back! This is the $61 million question for the Yankees this winter -- that figure, of course, is what remains on Rodriguez's contract through the 2017 season. Coming off a yearlong suspension, having had surgery on both hips and heading into his age-40 season, what can be reasonably expected?

No one knows for certain, but it'd be fun to hazard a guess. Preparation is not going to be an issue for Rodriguez, and he should be expected to show up in as good condition as possible; remember, this was not a rehab year, so in theory he should be rested and ready to go. Certainly, his reflexes looked OK when he nearly was trampled by Tony Romo and the Cowboys on Sunday.

Offensively, let's presume that Rodriguez hasn't deteriorated from 2013 and he can offer close to what he provided in those 44 games, when he hit only .244 but posted a .771 OPS. That's not too far off his .783 OPS in '12, and here's something crazy: that .771 OPS would have topped every Yankees regular in '14.

To put it another way -- Chase Headley had a split line of .243/.328/.372 in 135 combined games with the Padres and Yankees this year, hitting 13 homers and driving in 49 runs (as you know, he improved after the July trade to New York). If Rodriguez stays on the field, could he match or exceed that? I'd venture to answer yes.

Defensively, we already know that Joe Girardi has brought up the idea of having Rodriguez try on a first baseman's glove for part-time duty, an assignment that you wouldn't figure Rodriguez would have too much difficulty taking on.

Ideally, he would still be able to play third base a few times a week, as well as serve as a productive designated hitter -- particularly if Carlos Beltran comes back as an everyday right fielder, as is expected. We're only about two months away from the first stakeouts in Tampa, when all these answers should become clearer.

What are the chances of the Yankees landing a big-name free agent pitcher?
-- Ken T., Myrtle Beach, S.C.

It would not be a shock to see the Yankees connected early in free agency to any of the big names out there: Max Scherzer, Jon Lester and James Shields pacing the way, particularly if Hal Steinbrenner gives the OK to double down after last year's $175 million investment in Masahiro Tanaka.

The Yankees have said that they would prefer to funnel funds toward player development, but there are so many question marks in the rotation. CC Sabathia missed most of the year to injury and his "ace" days are probably over, Ivan Nova isn't expected back until May, Tanaka's elbow is still a blinking caution light and Michael Pineda was either dominant or absent. Shane Greene should get a crack at the back end.

Re-signing Brandon McCarthy would be a solid mid-level move to fill out the rotation, and you could look at Tanaka-Pineda as a strong 1-2 punch, assuming good health. After a second straight dark October, they still might be tempted to land a big name, and there are at least three good ones out there to chase.

Might the Yankees look in-house for their answer at shortstop? Could Jose Pirela be considered?
-- Steve S., Oswego, N.Y.

All indications are that the Yankees are looking externally for their next shortstop, though they would like to consider Pirela and Rob Refsnyder as starting options at second base in 2015. The Yankees bumped Pirela from shortstop after the 2011 season, and he has only played there sparingly since; they look at him more as a second baseman and left fielder.

Which Cuban import will the Yankees try to sign the hardest?
-- Miguel G., Fayetteville, N.C.

The answer to that question may very well be 'none.' The signings of star talents like Orlando Hernandez and Jose Contreras are long in the rearview mirror for the Yankees, who have watched from the sidelines in recent years as players like Yasiel Puig, Yoenis Cespedes, Jose Abreu and Rusney Castillo have found big league homes. They seemed more engaged with Castillo than the others, but the question remains: Why is that?

Part of the reason, as general manager Brian Cashman has explained, is that New York would have been penalized even more on the dollar by the luxury tax on those players. The Yankees did scout those Cuban players, and they've looked closely at outfielder Yasmany Tomas, attending his showcase last month. But Castillo could command as much as $100 million, and the Yankees are trying to figure out how to give enough at-bats to veterans already under contract such as A-Rod and Beltran.

Do you expect Manny Banuelos to be moved to the bullpen like Dellin Betances? He could be a good asset in a relief role.
-- Edgardo R., Vega Baja, P.R.

As of now, the plan is to continue developing Banuelos as a starter, but his quickest route to the big leagues might be as a reliever. He's finally healthy after Tommy John surgery, and he's still just 23. Banuelos could compete for a bullpen role in Spring Training, similar to what the Yankees have done in years past with David Phelps and Adam Warren, and he otherwise might be a starting depth option waiting at Triple-A.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Pipeline Perspectives: Judge is best of the big men in AFL

And some of the biggest prospects in baseball are in the AFL, too. The two most physically imposing players in the AFL are 6-foot-7, 230-pound Aaron Judge of the Yankees and Scottsdale Scorpions, and 6-foot-6, 230-pound Steven Moya of the Tigers and Glendale Desert Dogs. Their similarities extend beyond their builds to their positon (outfield) and toolsets -- which make them good fodder for our latest Perspective.

Jonathan Mayo prefers Moya as a prospect because he believes Moya has more raw power and a higher ceiling. I like Judge more, because I think he'll have more usable power and see him as having a better ceiling and floor. Both players run well for their size, have strong arms and are capable right fielders, but ultimately how they produce at the plate will determine most of their worth.

Coming out of Linden (Calif.) High in 2010, Judge drew more interest from college programs as a tight end in football than he did in baseball, though the Athletics did draft him in the 31st round. Scouts really began to take note of Judge when he ranked as the top prospect in the summer Alaska League following his freshman season at Fresno State. As a sophomore, he hit two homers in one game off Stanford's Mark Appel (who would become the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft), won the TD Ameritrade College Home Run Derby and starred in the Cape Cod League.

When Judge slammed 12 homers as a junior in 2012 after totaling six long balls in his first two college seasons, he cemented himself as one of the top prospects available in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft. One of three Yankees first-rounders that June, he went 32nd overall and signed for $1.8 million.

Judge missed his first pro summer with a tear in his right quadriceps, but his 2014 debut was worth the wait. Splitting his time between two Class A clubs, he batted .308/.419/.486 with 17 homers. Though he struck out 131 times in 131 games, he showed good patience at the plate by walking 89 times.

Despite his size, Judge doesn't have an excessively long swing, which bodes well for his ability to hit for average at higher levels. At the same time, his impressive strength and leverage give him huge power upside from the right side of the plate. He's content to drive balls from gap to gap for now, and he could really do a lot of damage if he starts to turn on pitches on the inner half more consistently.

Moya had an even better 2014 than Judge, winning Eastern League MVP Award honors while leading the Double-A circuit in homers (35), RBIs (105), extra-base hits (71), total bases (286) and slugging (.555). Yet the left-handed hitter showed little grasp of the strike zone, topping the EL with 161 whiffs while walking just 23 times.

Moya's breakout season was out of character considering how he performed during his first six years in pro ball, when he hit a combined .241/.290/.400. But his lack of strike-zone discipline this year was even worse than the 414/80 strikeout-to-walk ratio he compiled before 2014. It's a red flag that creates concern about how he'll fare against more advanced pitchers who can do a better job exploiting his extreme aggressiveness.

The other worry with Moya is his ability to stay on the diamond. This was the first time in his four years in full-season ball that he managed to play more than 93 games. He missed time in 2011 with hamstring problems, in '12 with an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery, and in '13 with a sprained shoulder.

Moya entered pro ball five years before Judge, yet they have had the same number of healthy and productive full seasons: one. Judge is a much more sound hitter, which makes him a better bet to tap into his power and produce as a big league regular.

Jim Callis is a reporter for MLB.com and writes a blog, Callis' Corner. Follow @jimcallisMLB on Twitter. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Yankees begin hitting coach search with Magadan, Davis

NEW YORK -- As the Yankees' professional scouting meetings wrap up this week at Yankee Stadium, the club has started its search for a new hitting coach, setting up interviews with former big leaguers Chili Davis and Dave Magadan about the vacancy.

The Yankees dismissed hitting coach Kevin Long last week, along with first-base and infield coach Mick Kelleher. In Long's case, the change came after the Yankees scored just 633 runs in 2014, the third-fewest in the American League.

"I think trying to bring a new perspective in will better serve us with the personnel as we continue to move forward," general manager Brian Cashman said. "So I've made the tough decision to let a good hitting coach go and trying to find another quality one to replace him."

Davis, 54, has been the Athletics' hitting coach for the last three seasons and won two World Series with the Yankees, in 1998 and '99. He interviewed with the Yankees on Thursday and will meet with the Red Sox on Friday, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Magadan, 52, is currently the Rangers' hitting coach, but Texas has granted its coaches permission to speak to other clubs because they hired a new manager following Ron Washington's resignation last month.

The Mets are also believed to have reached out to Magadan, who has previously served as a hitting coach for the Padres and the Red Sox. He told the New York Post that his talks with both the Yankees and Mets are "in the preliminary stages."

Other candidates are expected to follow in the interview process, and former big league slugger Dante Bichette -- a close personal friend of manager Joe Girardi -- could enter the running. Bichette, 50, served as the Rockies' hitting coach in '13.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Roberts hangs up cleats after 14 years in Majors

Second baseman Brian Roberts is retiring, according to The Baltimore Sun.

The 37-year-old Roberts spent 13 of his 14 Major League seasons with the Orioles, the team that drafted him in 1999. He spent this past year with the Yankees, playing 91 games before being released in August.

"It was just kind of my time," Roberts told The Baltimore Sun. "There were numerous reasons that I felt like I couldn't play at a level that I was accustomed to and wanted to play at if I continued to play. I always said that I wasn't going to be the guy that tried to hang on as long as I could."

Roberts was a key cog in the Orioles' lineup for much of the 2000s before injuries derailed his career. He was a two-time All-Star with speed, totaling at least 40 doubles five times and stealing at least 20 bases seven straight years.

Roberts left the Orioles as a free agent after the 2013 season to sign with New York.

"I took, at the time, the best offer I had," Roberts told the Sun. "Do I wish in some ways that I had spent every day with the Orioles? Sure, that was a dream of mine for a long time. I don't think I ever shied away from making that pretty clear. It will always be the organization I feel like is home for me."

Roberts was a .276 career hitter with 97 home runs, 542 RBIs and 285 stolen bases.

Cash Kruth is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @cashkruth. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Pipeline Perspectives: Judge is best of the big men in AFL

And some of the biggest prospects in baseball are in the AFL, too. The two most physically imposing players in the AFL are 6-foot-7, 230-pound Aaron Judge of the Yankees and Scottsdale Scorpions, and 6-foot-6, 230-pound Steven Moya of the Tigers and Glendale Desert Dogs. Their similarities extend beyond their builds to their positon (outfield) and toolsets -- which make them good fodder for our latest Perspective.

Jonathan Mayo prefers Moya as a prospect because he believes Moya has more raw power and a higher ceiling. I like Judge more, because I think he'll have more usable power and see him as having a better ceiling and floor. Both players run well for their size, have strong arms and are capable right fielders, but ultimately how they produce at the plate will determine most of their worth.

Coming out of Linden (Calif.) High in 2010, Judge drew more interest from college programs as a tight end in football than he did in baseball, though the Athletics did draft him in the 31st round. Scouts really began to take note of Judge when he ranked as the top prospect in the summer Alaska League following his freshman season at Fresno State. As a sophomore, he hit two homers in one game off Stanford's Mark Appel (who would become the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft), won the TD Ameritrade College Home Run Derby and starred in the Cape Cod League.

When Judge slammed 12 homers as a junior in 2012 after totaling six long balls in his first two college seasons, he cemented himself as one of the top prospects available in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft. One of three Yankees first-rounders that June, he went 32nd overall and signed for $1.8 million.

Judge missed his first pro summer with a tear in his right quadriceps, but his 2014 debut was worth the wait. Splitting his time between two Class A clubs, he batted .308/.419/.486 with 17 homers. Though he struck out 131 times in 131 games, he showed good patience at the plate by walking 89 times.

Despite his size, Judge doesn't have an excessively long swing, which bodes well for his ability to hit for average at higher levels. At the same time, his impressive strength and leverage give him huge power upside from the right side of the plate. He's content to drive balls from gap to gap for now, and he could really do a lot of damage if he starts to turn on pitches on the inner half more consistently.

Moya had an even better 2014 than Judge, winning Eastern League MVP Award honors while leading the Double-A circuit in homers (35), RBIs (105), extra-base hits (71), total bases (286) and slugging (.555). Yet the left-handed hitter showed little grasp of the strike zone, topping the EL with 161 whiffs while walking just 23 times.

Moya's breakout season was out of character considering how he performed during his first six years in pro ball, when he hit a combined .241/.290/.400. But his lack of strike-zone discipline this year was even worse than the 414/80 strikeout-to-walk ratio he compiled before 2014. It's a red flag that creates concern about how he'll fare against more advanced pitchers who can do a better job exploiting his extreme aggressiveness.

The other worry with Moya is his ability to stay on the diamond. This was the first time in his four years in full-season ball that he managed to play more than 93 games. He missed time in 2011 with hamstring problems, in '12 with an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery, and in '13 with a sprained shoulder.

Moya entered pro ball five years before Judge, yet they have had the same number of healthy and productive full seasons: one. Judge is a much more sound hitter, which makes him a better bet to tap into his power and produce as a big league regular.

Jim Callis is a reporter for MLB.com and writes a blog, Callis' Corner. Follow @jimcallisMLB on Twitter. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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