MIAMI, FL — Team USA is getting very strong leadership from its captain Aaron Judge, which is not a surprise, but the fact that the team praises his leadership more than his play on the field speaks volumes.
The 33-year-old right-handed hitting slugger, a three-time American League MVP with the New York Yankees, left his mark on and off the field in this past Sunday night’s 2-1 win against the Dominican Republic in the semifinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Judge threw out Fernando Tatis Jr. to end the third from right field, when it would’ve been first and third with two outs if Tatis Jr. had been safe. He also made a diving catch to take away a hit from his former teammate and crosstown rival Juan Soto of the Mets in the fourth.
“Yes, it’s been incredible being the captain for Team USA, something I don’t take lightly. When (USA’s manager Mark DeRosa) DeRo called me and wanted me to be on the team, I said, ‘man, this is just an honor getting to put on this uniform with everybody.’”
The skipper DeRosa also went out of his way to praise Judge when he was asked what he had learned about the seven-time All-Star in this tournament.
“He’s the definition of captain, I’ll tell you that much. Leader of men, process-oriented, great teammate. Just a phenomenal human being besides the fact that he’s the best hitter in the sport. So it has been just awesome to share a locker room with him.”
-Team USA manager Mark DeRosa on Aaron Judge and his leadership
Moreover, DeRosa obviously isn’t trying to downplay Judge’s abilities as a player, but it speaks volumes that he talks more about his positive presence in the clubhouse.
“As captain, my job’s simple, especially with this group,” Judge said of his responsibility as the captain of Team USA. “It’s just try to get the best out of every single individual in this room. If we’re all playing at the top of our game, we’re all comfortable, we’re doing our thing, good things are going to happen and we’re going to bring home the gold.”
Of course this is nothing new to Judge since he has been the captain of the Yankees throughout the last three seasons, dealing with every high pressure situation imaginable in the Bronx.
A press conference back in April of 2025 at Yankee Stadium where Team USA announced that Aaron Judge would be the captain of Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic – Image Credit: Hector Beauchamp/Latino Sports
Judge’s leadership has even been passed down to Boston Red Sox young star outfielder Roman Anthony, rivals in Major League Baseball, however, teammates seeking one goal in this WBC.
“There are so many things I could say about that guy and the type of leader he is, the type of teammate he is. Obviously, we all know what he can do as a player. He’s one of the best players on the planet, if not, the best.”
-Team USA’s outfielder Roman Anthony on Aaron Judge
Anthony, further reflecting on the experience of playing with Judge and how he has asked questions to him on trying to improve his skillset, did his best impression of No. 99 in pinstripes, with the go-ahead solo home run against Dominican Republic:
“I think more so for both of us watching the way that he works and leads in the clubhouse, he’s so selfless You wouldn’t know whether he’s had a good or a bad day. He’s the same guy every day. So getting to be here with him and to learn from him and to watch the way that he goes about it, it’s no surprise that he is the way that he is. So for me, just being around him has been an absolute honor.”
Now the question is if Judge and Anthony, among a star-studded American roster, can lead Team USA (5-1) to their first WBC title since 2017 against Venezuela, led by manager Omar López, recording five wins and one loss in this World Baseball Classic and appearing in the country’s first-ever WBC Championship game.
Perhaps the toughest task yet for Judge and company as Venezuela is relentless, with a lineup featuring Ronald Acuña Jr., Jackson Chourio, Maikel García, Eugenio Suárez, among others, who will fight until the very last pitch and have shown to produce just as much as the other top-tier teams in the 2026 WBC.
“My country needs that win tomorrow (Tuesday),” said Acuña Jr. after Venezuela’s WBC semifinal win Monday night.
“USA has a really good team, we have a really good team too, but let’s see what happens tomorrow.”
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