Aaron Judge is an American professional baseball player who currently plays for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He's a star outfielder and has achieved many accomplishments in his career, such as breaking Babe Ruth's home run record with 61 home runs in September 2022. But Aaron's impressive feats don't come without help - his parents Patty and Wayne Judge have been with him since they adopted him at 1 day old, instilling in him important values that guide his career today.

Aaron James Judge was born on April 26, 1992 in Linden, California to adoptive parents Patty and Wayne Judge. The Judges had previously adopted Aaron’s older brother John, so when Aaron was just a baby, the Judges welcomed him with open arms into their family. Of his adoptive mother he said: “Some kids grow in their mom’s stomach; I grew in my mom’s heart. She’s always showed me love and compassion ever since I was a little baby. I’ve never needed to think differently or wonder about anything.”

Growing up, Aaron Judge was an avid sports fan and played football, basketball and baseball in high school. Although he received several offers to play college-level football and baseball from major universities including Stanford and Notre Dame, Judge opted to follow his parents’ footsteps and attend Fresno State to play baseball. In 2010, when he was 18 years old, Judge was selected in the Major League Baseball amateur draft by the Oakland A’s. After playing for Fresno State from 2011 through 2013, he was chosen by the New York Yankees in the first round of the 2013 draft.

Wayne and Patty have always been Aaron's biggest fans. When he was a child, they were often outside playing catch together — a moment Aaron remembers fondly. In July 2022, Aaron stated that his father is his hero. "He's always been my hero, always a guy I looked up to," he said. "Looking back on those childhood memories, I could tell he didn't want to do it. I could tell he was tired. He'd had a long day of work. But he never said no. He never complained, nothing. So for me, that's why he's still the hero in my eyes."

Patty and Wayne were with Aaron to witness his 61st home run. They watched as he made history and celebrated alongside him. Afterward, he gave Patty the ball from the historic homerun and said, "Getting to share this moment with my mom ... it means a lot ..."

Patty and Aaron are doing much more than sharing moments. They have teamed up to launch the Aaron Judge ALL RISE Foundation (AJARF). Founded in 2017, its mission is to create a positive impact through programs that empower young people and their families. Patty is AJARF's executive director and together they have organized annual camps and programs for children, leadership conferences, a mini-grant program to community-based organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club and Valley Children's Healthcare, and an All-Star Evening Gala.

Aaron told PEOPLE that the values his mother instilled in him are evident in everything the foundation does. "I know I wouldn't be a professional athlete without my mom," he said. "The guidance she gave me as a kid growing up, knowing the difference between right and wrong, how to treat people, how to go the extra mile and put in the extra work—all those values are the values we want to instill in the lives of each young person we work with through the ALL RISE Foundation. If we can do that, we are living our mission."

Aaron Judge and AJARF are inspiring us all to be better people, and with their help, young people everywhere will get a positive head start in life. Aaron's story is an important reminder that success comes from hard work, and that it doesn't happen alone. With the help of his parents, Aaron Judge is showing us all how to rise up and reach for our goals.