How 25-year-old Aaron Judge emerged to become the heir to Derek Jeter as the future of the Yankees

Yankees rookie phenom Aaron Judge has been one of the most compelling stories in baseball so far this season.

Standing 6-foot-7 and weighing 282 pounds, Judge is already the largest position player to ever take the field. But beyond his imposing size, it's his quick rise to success that is catching the eyes of baseball fans across the league.

Judge leads the American League in batting average, home runs, and slugging percentage in his first full season, and is quickly emerging as the future of not only the Yankees, but also the heir apparent to Derek Jeter as baseball's next superstar that truly transcends the sport.

Despite his current high-profile, Judge didn't come into the league as highly touted as many other recent young breakout stars have.

Below, we'll take you through Judge's meteoric rise as one of the most must-watch players in the Major League Baseball.