Aaron Boone believes his three-time American League MVP is perfectly suited for the World Baseball Classic.
‘The fact that Aaron Judge is captaining the U.S. team,’ the Yankees manager said of his prized right fielder, ‘I think it’s the right thing.’
In an appearance on the Yankees’ YES Network, Boone downplayed the possibility of injury for his superstar and captain of the Bronx Bombers, noting that Judge could benefit from the high level of competition the WBC provides at a time most players are simply getting reps in during spring training games.
Yet the small samples of WBC play tend to overblow both the injury risk and the potential impact for participants.
In 2023, Team USA advanced to the championship game, which concluded when Shohei Ohtani famously struck out then-Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout to secure the title for Japan. In the 11-day span of games, just one member of Team USA – Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts – took at least 30 at-bats.
Similarly, the starring roles often emerge from unlikely sources. Philadelphia shortstop Trea Turner made the most of his 23 at-bats in six games – clubbing six home runs, including a dramatic grand slam against Venezuela in the quarterfinals.
Indeed, sometimes it’s the less-vaunted sluggers who get the best pitches to hit. And Judge – who drew 124 walks to lead the AL last season – is certainly accustomed to waiting his turn. Not that he won’t have any help: Team USA has received commitments from Kyle Schwarber, Cal Raleigh and Bobby Witt Jr. – the latter two MVP runner-ups to Judge the past two seasons – with others sure to join.
Judge will get a taste of that rare environment – combining global superstar power with collegiality and camaraderie – and that alone could outweigh the perceived injury risk.
“Obviously, there’s certain times that come up,’ says Boone. ‘But you also realize the value that it can provide for these guys to go really compete at this level. I think in some cases, even some of our pitchers, it forces them into having a better offseason ramp-up to get ready for this.”