Aaron Judge heads Team USA in 2026 WBC, but is that a blessing or a curse?
Team USA captain Aaron Judge and manager Mark DeRosa attend a news conference Monday at Yankee Stadium. Credit: AP/Ron Blum
Aaron Judge being named captain of Team USA for next year’s World Baseball Classic is the best thing that could happen for the sport.
And potentially the worst for the Yankees.
But that’s the dichotomy between MLB’s signature international event and the 30 franchises responsible for donating their star players to the cause every three or four years.
By almost every measure, the WBC has become a runaway hit, growing from a novel spring-training project in 2006 to the hotly-contested, must-watch spectacle that concluded with Shohei Ohtani -- as closer! -- striking out Mike Trout to win the ’23 title for Team Japan. It’s riveting, real baseball in March, otherwise a snoozer space on the sport’s calendar when we’re usually just talking about practice.
The one caveat? The non-zero percentage chance that somebody winds up hurt while they’re away playing serious baseball at a non-serious time and a team’s season gets ruined, or at least derailed.
And that’s not being an alarmist or WBC hater. It’s just reality. Edwin Diaz is forever known as the Mets’ closer who had his 2023 season wiped out by a knee injury suffered in the on-field celebration of Puerto Rico’s upset win over the Dominican Republic, their biggest rival. Freakish doesn’t begin to describe the bizarre nature of his knee crumbling amid that joyous scrum.
But Diaz’s surgery isn’t an isolated case. Jose Altuve, playing for Venezuela that same year, had his thumb fractured by a 96-mph fastball and missed the first two months of the season. Blowing out a knee or getting wounded by a pitch can easily happen in the Grapefruit League, too. But playing in the WBC ramps up the intensity to October levels when players aren’t even in regular-season shape yet, which is why it’s been difficult for many countries, and especially Team USA, to put together a pitching staff.
Plus, there’s an inner tug-of-war between a player’s desire to compete for his country and the allegiance to the employer that pays him millions to win games in that uniform. Judge himself said Monday -- shortly after donning his USA cap -- that the timing wasn’t right in 2023 because he had just signed a nine-year, $360 million contract three months earlier, a package that included Hal Steinbrenner naming him the 16th captain in franchise history. As a result, he felt obligated to stick in Tampa for spring training.
Probably a smart move then by Judge, who’s as savvy in that regard as Derek Jeter, the captain that preceded him. Now faced with a do-over, Judge is going all-in for Team USA, though he still understands the conflict involved with such a decision.
“Guys are focused on their career and making a living for their family -- I think that’s the No. 1 thing,” Judge said. “I think health is important. That’s why for me it just kind of lined up. Last time, for the WBC, I couldn’t get in there. But this time, I got an opportunity before I get too old and [manager] Mark [DeRosa] doesn’t want me anymore out there. I get a chance to represent my country and bring home the gold.”
It’s no secret the Yankees haven’t been the most receptive to the idea of shipping their players to the WBC. While the Commissioner’s Office prohibits clubs from standing in the way of anyone’s participation, it’s hard to police GMs or managers leaning on certain players to stay put in camp. And you really can’t blame team officials for trying to look out for the franchise’s best interests -- as well as their own, since jobs could ride on those All-Stars returning from the WBC in one piece.
When Luis Severino planned to pitch for the DR in the ’23 Classic, the Yankees nixed the idea, citing health concerns. Also, GM Brian Cashman had just picked up Severino’s $15 million option for that season.
“I respect he wanted to play, but I got to protect the Yankees first,” Cashman said back then.
Ideally, the Yankees would surely prefer that Judge spend his March tuning up in Tampa, but it sounds like they didn’t have any input. When Judge was asked if he spoke to the Yankees before making his decision, he offered a one-word reply: “No.”
What was there to talk about? Judge, who turns 33 next week, already has secured his long-term future in the Bronx. He’s still trying to deliver that elusive World Series ring, so why not shoot for WBC gold in the meantime? There’s reason for the Yankees to be skittish about Judge going, however. He’s had his share of freakish injuries -- remember him inadvertently kicking that outfield wall at Dodger Stadium? -- and March hasn’t been the healthiest month for him. Judge tends to ease his way into spring training, and he’s been slowed occasionally by some core issues.
So as MLB celebrates their newest Captain America, the Yankees have to smile along -- even if they’ll be holding their collective breath during next year’s WBC.
“I think it’s the perfect face to be the captain of Team USA,” manager Aaron Boone said.
There’s no denying that. Monday’s rollout of Judge was a huge W for everyone who loves baseball and can’t wait to see him headlining what should be a star-studded roster. It just made the Yankees, and their fans, probably a little nervous even thinking about those upcoming two weeks in March.
David Lennon is an award-winning columnist, a voter for baseball's Hall of Fame and has covered six no-hitters, including two perfect games.
