Aaron Judge to Captain Team USA in 2026 World Baseball Classic
Aaron Judge is taking on a new role as captain of Team USA for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, the Yankees star announced Monday.
The reigning American League MVP will make his WBC debut after sitting out the 2023 tournament.
“I wanted to be there,” Judge said Monday on MLB Network. “I was looking forward to this opportunity again.”
He admitted it felt wrong watching from the sidelines last time instead of being part of the team.
Judge skipped the 2023 WBC after just signing his massive nine-year deal with the Yankees. Though he called playing for Team USA “an honor,” he wanted to focus on bringing a championship back to New York for the first time since 2009.
The slugger turns 33 later this month and is off to an incredible start this season. He’s hitting a blistering .357 with six homers and 20 RBIs in just 15 games.
If he keeps this pace, Judge would join some legendary company. He’d become only the fourth player ever with four 50-plus homer seasons, alongside Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, and Yankees legend Babe Ruth. Pretty amazing company for any power hitter.
The last WBC in 2023 came after a six-year break caused by the COVID pandemic. Team USA made it all the way to the championship game before losing a heartbreaker to Japan, 3-2.
America has done well in the tournament historically, winning it all in 2017 and finishing third in 2009.
Mark DeRosa will return as Team USA’s manager after leading the 2023 squad. The former big-leaguer spent 16 seasons in the majors and now works as an MLB Network analyst.
Judge is the first player announced for the 2026 roster.
Team USA will compete in Pool B alongside Mexico, Italy, Great Britain, and Brazil when tournament play begins on March 6, 2026, in Houston. The top two teams from the pool will advance to the quarterfinals.
