Aaron Judge’s baseball legacy just added another milestone.
On Monday, the New York Yankees captain was officially named captain of Team USA for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. It’s a prestigious honor for one of the game’s biggest stars — and surprisingly, it marks Judge’s WBC debut.
Judge was unavailable for the 2023 tournament as he had just signed a massive nine-year contract extension with the Yankees and had recently been named the 16th captain in franchise history. This time, there’s no holding him back.
“I wanted to be there,” Judge said on MLB Network. “I was looking forward to this opportunity again.”
Team USA manager Mark DeRosa is also returning for another run, and naming Judge the first announced player — and captain — sends a clear message about the standard they plan to set.
So far, Judge is making good on the hype. Through the first 15 games of the 2025 MLB season, he’s off to a scorching .357 start with six home runs, a .478 OBP, and a league-best 1.228 OPS. He already leads the league in runs scored (17) and continues to show why he’s not just a fan favorite, but a generational power hitter.
In the two seasons since the last WBC, Judge has hit 101 home runs, posted a ridiculous 208 OPS+, and solidified himself as a top-three player in the world. If he stays on pace, he’ll be just the fourth player in history to notch four seasons with 50+ home runs.
And now, he’s taking that talent to the global stage.
Team USA is placed in Pool B alongside Mexico, Italy, Great Britain, and Brazil. All games will take place in Houston beginning March 6, 2026. The top two teams will move on to face Pool A’s top finishers in the quarterfinals — also in Houston.
Judge, who struggled in last year’s World Series loss to the Dodgers, is clearly motivated. Captaining Team USA gives him another shot at redemption — and another chance to chase the one thing missing from his resume: international gold.
