MIAMI -- As a kid growing up in Northern California, Yankees rookie slugger/2017 Home Run Derby champ Aaron Judge rooted for the San Francisco Giants and paid no attention to the Oakland Athletics.

His favorite player was Giants shortstop Rich Aurilia, and yes, he also looked up to their slugger who allegedly cheated his way to baseball's single-season and career home run records, Barry Bonds.

And after Bonds was gone and Judge already was a very big college freshman at Fresno State, he loved the Giants club that won the franchise's first World Series since the Manhattan-based New York Giants won it all in 1954.

His favorite player on the 2010 Giants was their then-young star catcher, Buster Posey.

Seven years later, Posey is in Miami for his fifth All-Star Game, Judge is there as a 6-foot-7, 282-pound rookie phenom and they met for the first time Monday at Marlins Park hours before the Derby.

Judge was awe struck.

"I was coming out of the bathroom and he was walking in the clubhouse and I just stopped and said, 'Buster, huge fan man," Judge said. "I have fun watching what he's doing, the way he plays on the field and how he acts off the field. He's a true definition of a professional."

During their short exchange, Posey responded to Judge's flattery by passing along a compliment.

"You've been fun to watch," Posey told Judge. "Keep it going and congrats."

A lot of people say the same thing about Judge, who is an American League Triple Crown threat with a .329 average, 30 homers and 66 RBIs at the break.

During his great first half, Judge's stats, size and athletic ability have been noticed by Posey.

"I'm jealous," said Posey, who stands 6-foot-1, 215 pounds. "I was thinking about that the other day. I was watching their game and saw him moving around in right field and was thinking to myself how impressive that is. ... It's pretty incredible how athletic he is."

Judge mentioned Posey several times during his 45-minute media availability Monday afternoon. He says Posey was the player that he was most eager to meet this week when showing up for his first All-Star Game.

"Meeting Buster Posey ... that was pretty cool," Judge said. "Just because I grew up a Giants fan and having a chance to meet him and play on the same field with him is pretty cool."

Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook.