Yankees captain Aaron Judge to lead Team USA in 2026 World Baseball Classic

Yankees slugger Aaron Judge is reporting for duty.

Judge has previously avoided participating in the World Baseball Classic. Now, not only will he be playing for Team USA in the 2026 tournament, but manager Mark DeRosa announced on MLB Network on Monday morning that Judge is the team captain.

“Heading into 2026, I think there’s a certain someone that needs to be the captain of the team,” DeRosa said, teasing, via MLB Network. “I think he patrols right field for the New York Yankees.”

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Judge’s age likely played a factor in his decision to participate in the tournament. There won’t be many more opportunities for the slugger, who turns 33 next week and is dead in the middle of his prime, to help Team USA win its second WBC trophy.

“I was looking forward to this opportunity to represent and be the captain,” Judge said in an appearance on MLB Network. “Something that (Mike Trout) did the last time is a pretty special honor.”

This could set up a potentially more exciting WBC than in 2023, when then-Angels teammates Mike Trout faced off against Shohei Ohtani in the final at bat of the tournament. Trout lost the battle, whiffing at an 87 mph Ohtani sweeper.

Uncharacteristically, Ohtani roared with excitement, removing his glove and throwing it away before celebrating with his Team Japan teammates.

Japan has won three of the five WBC tournaments, with the United States and Dominican Republic splitting the other two.

In 2026, after refusing to play in previous tournaments, Judge is hoping to bring another WBC trophy to America.

In 10 big league seasons, Judge has established himself as one of the best — if not the best — hitters in the game. He has a career .289 batting average and leads all active players with a career 1.014 OPS.

On top of nabbing an AL Rookie of the Year award after hitting a then-rookie record 52 home runs in 2017, Judge also has two AL MVP awards, six All-Star nods and four Silver Slugger awards.

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He’s had three seasons with at least 50 home runs, including one in which he hit 62, breaking the American League single-season home run record previously held by Roger Maris.

This season, he leads MLB with six home runs, 20 RBIs and a 1.228 OPS.

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Manny Gómez may be reached at mgomez@njadvancemedia.com.