New York Yankees star Aaron Judge will be leading Team USA at the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Moreover, Judge and his teammates will be looking to help the U.S. win its second WBC and first since 2017. However, there’s a major obstacle in their way, Team Japan.
Japan are the reigning champions heading into the 2026 WBC and defeated Team USA in the 2023 final. As a result, if Judge and Co. want to win this tournament, they may need to go through Japan, whether in the knockout stage or the final.
On Feb. 16, Judge spoke with reporters and shared his thoughts on the possibility of playing against Japan and Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani.
“It’ll be great,” Judge said about potentially facing Japan in the WBC (h/t SNY). “I haven’t played [Ohtani] in a WBC, so this will hopefully be my first time. There’s really no grudge match. It’s about me representing the U.S. for the first time and going out there and bringing the gold home.
“It’ll be fun. There’s going to be some great moments, and I’m just excited for the squad we got. The boys are pumped up, all the guys I’ve talked to and texted with. They can’t wait to get out to Arizona and get this thing rolling.”
Yankees’ Aaron Judge Gets Blunt About Playing for Team USA
Moreover, Judge didn’t hold back his thoughts on representing the U.S. and the emotions that come with it while speaking to SNY’s Niki Lattarulo on Feb. 16.
“It’s incredible,” Judge added. I was pretty taken aback when [Team USA manager Mark DeRosa] called me and said he wanted me to be the captain, especially after Mike Trout being the captain last year, the last time they did it in ’23. But anytime I get a chance to represent the USA and wear that across my chest, it’s going to be special.
“Just thinking about a lot of the men and women out there who have fought for this country and are still fighting for this country. For me to come out here and play a kid’s game, it’s just a lot of emotions. A lot of thoughts go through your head when you think about that. I’m just completely humbled and honored, that’s for sure.”
Bryce Harper Looks Forward to Playing With Aaron Judge
Judge will team up with some of the best players in MLB to help the U.S. win its second WBC, and one of his teammates will be Philadelphia Phillies’ Bryce Harper. While speaking to the media on Feb. 15, Harper was blunt about the feeling of having Judge as a teammate.
“I’m into the feeling of putting USA on your chest and playing for something so much bigger than yourself, representing your whole country going in,” Harper told reporters (h/t OnPattison)
“There’s nothing greater. Having Aaron Judge hit behind me is going to be a lot of fun as well. That’s going to be really cool. I’m really excited to play with him and play with a lot of guys on that team.”
Yankees’ Aaron Judge Doesn’t Hold Back on Potential Japan Clash