Aaron Judge, the standout player for the New York Yankees, is reportedly gearing up to become a father! The 32-year-old outfielder and his wife, Samantha Bracksieck, are reportedly expecting their first baby, a daughter.
This news comes shortly after a challenging period for Judge and the Yankees, who experienced disappointment in the World Series after losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Judge and Bracksieck’s relationship began in high school in Linden, California. Bracksieck first made an appearance on Judge’s Instagram in 2014, and both later attended Fresno State University. In 2017, Bracksieck received recognition for her master’s thesis in kinesiology, which focused on elbow ligament injuries in Major League Baseball. The pair tied the knot in a private ceremony at the Montage Kapalua Bay Resort in Maui, Hawaii, in December 2021, with many Yankees teammates present.
Fans of the Yankees began to speculate about Judge entering a new phase in his life this past October. Observant fans captured images of Bracksieck with what seemed to be a baby bump during the American League Championship Series. At that event, Bracksieck was reportedly seen on the field with Judge after the Yankees defeated the Cleveland Guardians, as shown in photos shared online (which have since been removed).
Although Judge and Bracksieck typically keep a low profile regarding their relationship, they occasionally step out together.
“What a time we had out in LA for the All Star break! Can’t thank Yankee fans and all the fans out there for their support and making this one of the best years yet! Time to get rolling in the 2nd half!” Judge wrote in a July 2022 Instagram post, sharing a glimpse into their life together.
Judge also mentioned in a 2022 interview that his wife played a role in helping him secure a $360 million contract with the Yankees that year.
“I was in California. Sam and I were headed to Hawaii to celebrate our [wedding] anniversary. We had a flight at 8 a.m., so 2 o’clock in the morning, 3 o’clock, we’re just staying up,” Judge recalled during an interview with the Casa De Klub podcast in July. “We’re going back and forth about different offers from different teams. What do you want to do? And I’m telling her, ‘I want to stay in New York. I don’t want to go anywhere else.’”
Bracksieck urged Judge to speak with Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner.
“We call him and I’m just kind of laying it out there, like, ‘Hey, I don’t want to go anywhere. This is where I want to be if you can just add one more year to the deal. I’m set. I’m not looking for anything more, I just want one more year. I want to play this game for a long time,’” Judge remembered. Soon after, he learned he would be named the 16th captain of the Yankees.