How would Judge describe Ohtani? 'The best player in the game'

NEW YORK -- Aaron Judge feels the excitement surrounding this blue-chip World Series between the Yankees and the Dodgers, a meeting between the likely MVP Award winners in each league. He’s just as interested as anyone to see how Shohei Ohtani -- whom he called “the best player in the game” -- responds to the brightest spotlight they’ve ever shared.

“He hits for average, he hits for power, the speed,” Judge said. “Doing what he did this year with the 50 stolen bases, it got talked about a lot, but I don’t think it got talked about enough. He’s an impressive, impressive athlete, the best player in the game, and what an ambassador for this sport.

“ … You see him hustling around the diamond, and I think that just sets a great example for our youth and all the kids that are going to be watching this series.”

As Judge spoke during the Yankees’ workout in the Bronx, Ohtani was some 3,000 miles away, gearing up for a coast-to-coast Fall Classic that is set to open on Friday at Dodger Stadium.

Judge lauded the Dodgers as “a complete team,” but in this showdown of superstar-laden rosters, there are two who will garner the most attention. It is the first World Series since 1956 to feature each league’s home run champion; count Judge among those in Ohtani’s fan club.

“We’ve had our battles throughout the regular season over the years when he was with the Angels, seeing him hit homers over my head,” Judge said on Tuesday. “But getting a chance to play on the biggest stage and in the biggest moment, I think that’s going to be pretty cool to watch.”

Judge and the Yankees faced Ohtani during the regular season, a three-game showdown at Yankee Stadium in June that felt as though it could serve as an appetizer for October. Playing without Juan Soto, who missed that series with left forearm inflammation, the Yankees dropped two of three games.

But the Bombers’ pitching staff largely contained Ohtani, who went 2-for-13 with four runs scored, an RBI and a walk in the series.

“He’s a good hitter, but anybody is pitchable,” left-hander Carlos Rodón said on Tuesday. “I’m going to give him his credit: he’s a great hitter, he’s got tremendous power, he sees the ball well. He can drive the ball out of any ballpark. He can probably hit it out of any stadium -- like, out of the stadium, not just over the fence.”

As Dodgers fans no doubt recall in Giancarlo Stanton’s case, the Yankees have a few players who can reach the parking lot, too. Ohtani and the other mighty Los Angeles bats are a challenge that the Yankees are eager to meet head-on.

“It’s going to be fun,” Rodón said. “It’s a treat. You get to this point, those are the kinds of guys you want to face.”

During that series in June, the Yankees were struck by the festive atmosphere, and not just within the stadium walls. The traveling fan club known as Pantone 294 paraded with an NYPD escort through the streets outside Yankee Stadium, setting the tone that it would be no normal weekend.

“I talk every now and then about fun series in the course of the regular season,” said manager Aaron Boone. “Going to London, Field of Dreams. We’ve been to L.A. a couple of times since I’ve been here in the regular season; those were always really cool series, and the same rang true here in the Bronx.”

During that weekend, Judge couldn’t help but think, “What if?” -- how would the city react if these two teams could somehow meet when it counted the most? Now they will, with the Yankees seeking their first championship since 2009.

“For years as a kid, watching the Yankees play in the World Series and win the World Series -- that excitement, that emotion, how the city comes alive,” Judge said. “It’s definitely something special, and I’m looking forward to doing that.”

While Ohtani was (understandably) a huge draw back in June, Yoshinobu Yamamoto starred in the series opener, impressing in his Yankee Stadium debut. The Yankees made a significant offer to the Japanese right-hander over the offseason, 10 years and $300 million, but Yamamoto agreed with Los Angeles for two years and $25 million more.

Perhaps aiming to prove a point, Yamamoto revved his velocity to a season-high 98 mph that night, showcasing elite stuff while firing seven scoreless innings in the Dodgers’ 2-1 win in 11 innings. It came at a price, as Yamamoto landed on the injured list with a left rotator cuff strain eight days later.

The Dodgers handed New York an 11-3 thumping in the middle game, powered by two Teoscar Hernández homers and an Enrique Hernández blast, though Judge did homer twice -- his 22nd and 23rd of the season, off Gavin Stone and Ryan Yarbrough, respectively.

Boone recalled the series as “three really competitive games,” and New York finished on a strong note, besting the Dodgers, 6-4, in the finale behind Trent Grisham’s go-ahead, three-run homer. Grisham had responded after fans chanted, “We want Soto!,” hoping to summon the star from the dugout.

Now, as the Fall Classic approaches, the Yankees will have Soto -- and that may be the most significant difference between June and what we’re about to see this coming week. The stars will be out, and you’re not going to want to miss a pitch.

“Getting to this point,” Judge said, “this is where the real fun starts.”