Mike Trout officially passed the torch to Aaron Judge this week as the Yankees slugger was named captain of Team USA for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Judge becomes the first player to commit to the WBC roster, with Team USA manager Mark DeRosa confirming that the move had Trout’s full support.
“I reached out to Trout yesterday, told him where we were going,” DeRosa said on MLB Network. “He said, ‘He’s the one.’”
Judge had previously expressed interest in joining Team USA but opted out of the 2023 WBC after a record-breaking 62-home run season and a high-profile free agency that ended with a nine-year, $360 million deal from the Yankees. At the time, he was also stepping into a new role as New York’s first captain since Derek Jeter and chose to focus fully on his responsibilities in the Bronx.
Now, with his leadership firmly established and his on-field dominance continuing, Judge is ready to take center stage on the global stage.
“It’s something special getting a chance to represent our country,” Judge said. “Just thinking about all the brave men and women that have fought for this country and laid their lives down for us to get a chance to go out here, and especially me, to get a chance to go out here and play a game, it’s a pretty humbling experience.”
While Trout remains a superstar when healthy, his career has taken a hit in recent seasons due to injuries. Since winning MVP in 2019, he’s only topped 100 games played once, and the Angels haven’t posted a winning record since 2015. At 33, Trout’s prime years appear to be winding down.
Judge, on the other hand, is at the peak of his powers. He’s won two of the last three AL MVP awards and is putting up monstrous numbers again in 2025: a .357 average, six home runs, 20 RBIs, 17 runs, and a 1.228 OPS through 15 games. He’s also fresh off leading the Yankees back to the World Series last October, solidifying his reputation as one of the game’s most feared and respected players.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised Judge as the “perfect face to be captain of Team USA.” His leadership, power, and presence give the United States a serious edge as the team begins to build its roster for a deep WBC run.
Team USA is set to compete in Pool B alongside Mexico, Italy, Great Britain, and Brazil when the tournament begins on March 5, 2026. With Judge leading the way, the Americans will once again be a favorite to take home the gold.
