After falling short of Classic title, Judge sets focus on winning one for Yanks
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TAMPA, Fla. – There was still some anger in Aaron Judge’s stride as he walked through the familiar hallways of George M. Steinbrenner Field, replaying Team USA’s loss to Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.
“You’re still thinking about the last couple of games. You’re mad about that,” Judge said. “But once I came back here, you get a chance to be around the boys and you throw on the pinstripes – now it’s time to get back to what we’re doing with the Yankees and building toward a championship with them.”
After an eventful WBC in which he served as Team USA’s captain, Judge returned to his usual role with the Yankees, slotted as the designated hitter and going 0-for-3 in Friday’s 3-1 Grapefruit League win over the Orioles.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that Judge’s next several days will consist of a lighter workload leading into the March 25 opener against the Giants in San Francisco. He’ll play right field on Sunday against the Phillies, then play Monday against the Cubs in Arizona.
“He’s built up and ready to go,” Boone said. “I think the couple days backing off hopefully serves him well.”
The silver medal finish stung for Judge, who went hitless in the championship game as the U.S. offense struggled in a 3-2 loss to Venezuela. He finished the tournament 6-for-27 (.222) with one double, two homers and five RBIs across seven games.
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He’s attempting to balance that disappointment with what he described as “something special” inside Team USA’s clubhouse.
“Every guy that represented the U.S., their clubs are lucky to have those guys,” Judge said. “They’re special individuals, every single one of them.”
Judge also raved about the elimination-game atmosphere, saying he couldn’t hear anything during warmups for the March 9 game against Mexico at loanDepot park and calling it “one of the rowdiest crowds” he’d ever experienced, including the World Series.
Judge said he wishes that level of energy could exist every night, while acknowledging it’s difficult to sustain over a 162-game season.
“It’s a high-stakes game, just like all the games we’ve played,” Judge said. “It’s different when you’ve got a band out in left field, a band out in right field. World Series games, a lot of the fans can’t afford those tickets sometimes.”
Judge added that he appreciated the “passion” and “emotion” displayed by opposing teams. Team USA was criticized for not displaying the same outward energy, which Judge said he heard from family members and friends.
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“Everybody’s different. Every culture is different,” Judge said. “I loved everything that Mexico was doing, Great Britain, the D.R. How they celebrate the game, it was amazing. If they’re going to say we don’t have the passion – my passion is grinding in this [batting] cage when nobody’s watching.
“You know, grinding as a 6-year-old in the backyard with my dad. That’s where our passion came from as kids. If I don’t show it outwardly like that, it doesn’t mean I don’t love the game.”
Judge said that he would love another opportunity to wear the stars and stripes, whether in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles or a future WBC.
“I want any chance I get,” Judge said. “I didn’t want to miss the last one [in 2023]. I was pissed I wasn’t in the one in ’17, even though I was a rookie. But yeah, any chance I get.”