Aaron Judge pays Shohei Othani huge compliment before Yankees-Dodgers World Series clash

Aaron Judge has never been closer to getting his first World Series ring.All that stands between the Yankees and their elusive 28th title is the Dodgers — and Shohei Ohtani — as baseball’s two brightest stars are finally headed to the Fall Classic.“We’ve had our battles throughout the regular season over the years when he was with the Angels, playing back and forth, seeing him hit homers over my head and having some good series,’’ Judge said Tuesday of facing Ohtani.“But getting a chance to play him on the biggest stage in the biggest moment, I think that’s going to be pretty cool to watch.’’Judge went on to call Ohtani “the best player in the game,” a title that will likely be put to the test over the next week.But when the World Series ends, the title will go to either the Yankees or the Dodgers — and not Judge or Ohtani.

And Judge has been around Yankee Stadium long enough to know the history surrounding the franchise.On more than one occasion this postseason, he’s talked about the “ghosts” of the old Stadium playing a role in these playoffs.Coming off one of the greatest individual seasons in franchise history — or any franchise for that matter — Judge and the Yankees still have more work to do.“The journey is always a tough one, but that’s the fun in all this,’’ Judge said before the Yankees worked out at the Stadium in advance of their first World Series appearance since 2009.

“There were good times and bad times, but getting to this point, this is where the real fun starts.For years, as a kid, I’d watch the Yankees play and win the World Series.

That excitement, the emotion, the city comes alive.It’s special.

I look forward to doing that with this group.”For all the Yankees’ star power, the spotlight will be brightest on Judge, in the second year of his nine-year, $360 million contract after being drafted by the organization in 2013.He’s become the face of the franchise, but is in the midst of anot...