Judge Relishes Captaincy as Team USA Leads into the WBC
PHOENIX — Aaron Judge, the three-time American League MVP, expressed his gratitude and enthusiasm as he donned the Team USA jersey, especially amidst the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict sparked by U.S.-Israel joint strikes on Iran. Judge, the captain of the U.S. team, is set to lead the nation in the World Baseball Classic, which commences on Thursday and concludes on March 17.
The Americans will commence their campaign against Brazil in Houston on Friday. Judge, after the team's workout on Monday, emphasized the significance of the moment, stating, 'A lot of crazy things happening in the world right now. I count my blessings every day that I get a chance to come out here, play the game that I love, have my family around me, and be around these great guys.'
During a team meeting, Judge addressed the squad, encouraging them to make the most of the opportunity and get to know each other. He described being the captain of Team USA as one of the biggest honors of his career, despite several other players on the roster having prior international experience.
Judge shared his thoughts on the jersey, saying, 'I flipped it over and looked at the front where it said USA, and for me, it really hit home. I started thinking about the sacrifices made by individuals who have served in the military, ensuring the safety of my family and allowing me to pursue my passion for the game.'
This marks the sixth iteration of the WBC, with Japan emerging victorious in 2006, 2009, and 2023. The Dominican Republic claimed the title in 2013, and the U.S. secured its lone championship in 2017.
This year's tournament, featuring 20 teams, commences on Thursday with four groups of five teams competing in Houston, Miami, Tokyo, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The U.S. will be based in Houston, playing four games over five days in Pool B against Mexico, Italy, Great Britain, and Brazil.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals, where the tournament transitions to a single-elimination format. Houston and Miami will each host two games in the quarterfinal round, with the semifinals and final taking place in Miami.
Prior to the tournament, the U.S. will play two exhibition games in Arizona against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday and the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday before traveling to Houston for the opening match on Friday.
The U.S. boasts a talented pitching staff, including both of last year's Cy Young Award winners, Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes. Skenes played his initial two seasons in college for the Air Force Academy before transferring to LSU.
Manager Mark DeRosa revealed that he had a compelling pitch for Skenes to join the roster last year, but the conversation was brief and straightforward. Skenes expressed his desire to honor every serviceman and woman who safeguards our freedom.
U.S. reliever Griffin Jax also played for Air Force for three seasons. Other notable pitchers include Giants' workhorse Logan Webb, Padres flamethrowing reliever Mason Miller, and veteran lefty Clayton Kershaw, who retired from Major League Baseball after an illustrious 18-year career with the Los Angeles Dodgers following last year's World Series win but is returning for one more WBC.
Skubal has confirmed that he will start once for the U.S. team before rejoining the Detroit Tigers for the remainder of spring training.
The potential starting lineup is expected to be powerful, led by veteran sluggers Bryce Harper, Judge, and Kyle Schwarber. The team also features youthful energy and speed with center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.
DeRosa, the manager, returns after guiding the U.S. to a second-place finish in 2023. The pitching coach is former Yankees lefty Andy Pettitte, while the hitting coaches are Matt Holliday and Sean Casey, and the bench coach is Michael Young.
