Joe Girardi on Aaron Judge's hot streak: 'We've been watching'

While the Yankees have roughly a month's worth of games left to determine their postseason legitimacy, the front office can take solace in the numbers of their most acclaimed farmhand.

In his last seven games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, outfielder Aaron Judge has drilled six home runs in 24 at-bats, leading the International League with 15 dingers on the year.

To Yankees manager Joe Girardi, Judge's streak has been tough to ignore.

"It's been impressive," Girardi told NJ.com on Sunday. "We've been paying attention. I tell you, all our minor league kids, it's one of my favorite things to do ... What Judge has done is impressive, and it's not just fastballs. It's been on breaking balls as well."

From May 10 to June 10, the 24-year-old went homer-less in 110 at-bats, a hitting slump that left scouts doubting if Judge was even close to major league material. But in the last 25 games, Judge has increased his batting average to .308, and has driven 18 runs in the process.

Judge has yet to play a game at the big league level, and with Carlos Beltran leading the offense in the Bronx, a promotion for the prospect prior to the Aug. 1 non-waiver trade deadline remains unlikely.