New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge will officially participate in the 2026 World Baseball Classic and serve as Team USA's captain. Team USA announced Monday morning that Judge, the two-time AL MVP, will lead the American squad next spring. Judge, who turns 33 later this month, has never played in the WBC.

Before Team USA manager Mark DeRosa named Aaron Judge captain of his squad for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, he ask Angels veteran Mike Trout for permission to give the Yankees slugger that title. “He’s the one,” Trout told DeRosa.