Boone thrilled to send captain Judge to lead Team USA

NEW YORK – There was a brief period last summer when the Yankees had to contemplate what their lineup might look like without Aaron Judge, their season seemingly hanging in the balance as the slugger underwent tests on his ailing right elbow.

They’ll experience that reality this spring, for a much more welcome reason. Tabbed as Team USA’s captain for the World Baseball Classic, the reigning American League Most Valuable Player will leave his pinstripes behind in early March, departing camp to prepare for tournament play.

“I’m excited for him,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Monday on the YES Network’s Hot Stove program. “I think a player of his magnitude and his caliber, as popular as we’ve seen this tournament become – certainly, last time it was a special, special event.

“I think the fact that Aaron Judge is captaining the U.S. team, I think it’s the right thing. … I’m excited for him to play in this kind of environment. Hopefully it’s a few weeks [where Judge is] away, and then we get him back.”

Judge was named Team USA’s captain last April, when he became the first player to commit to a squad that will be managed by Mark DeRosa.

It will mark the WBC debut for Judge, who expressed interest in the 2023 Classic but ultimately sat out following his 62-homer campaign and a whirlwind tour through free agency that resulted in a nine-year, $360 million contract with the Yanks.

“It’s something special, getting a chance to represent our country,” Judge said then. “I’m just thinking about all the brave men and women that have fought for this country and laid their lives down for us to get a chance to go out here and play a game. It’s a pretty humbling experience.”

Judge and Bombers closer David Bednar are among the players who have committed to Team USA.

Other Yankees who could participate include José Caballero (Panama), Jazz Chisholm Jr. (Great Britain), Fernando Cruz (Puerto Rico), Camilo Doval (Dominican Republic) and Austin Wells (Dominican Republic).

Boone downplayed a suggestion of injury risk for Judge and others.

“Any time you’re playing high-stakes baseball that early in the year, there’s a little bit of concern,” Boone said. “But it’s also become a big part of our sport, and you understand that. I think all we can do is try and make sure we’re helping these guys put themselves in the best position to go out there and to do it safely and be healthy doing it.

“Obviously, there’s certain times that come up, certain situations especially with pitchers that you want them to avoid. 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.”

Having edged the Mariners’ Cal Raleigh to win his third AL MVP, Judge will claim that award Jan. 24 at the 101st dinner hosted by the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA).