The top contender is Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt, who finished second to Judge in AL MVP voting last season. Witt has name recognition and a 20-game hitting streak already this season. One of the best pure hitters in the Majors, Witt is always a threat to string together 20 games in which he hits .400 or better.

Judge has connections and Sears accepted the kind gesture for a night out with his parents, who traveled from their home in South Carolina to be in New York for their very special Opening Day at Yankee Stadium. Here’s more on what Judge did from Sears, who was traded to the A’s in July of ’22 in a package of prospects for pitcher Frankie Montas: