Aaron Judge makes history as only second Yankee ever to captain team USA

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Aaron Judge is stepping into a role few have held—and only one Yankee before him.

Thus, Aaron Judge became only the second player from the New York Yankees to be named captain of Team USA for the 2026 World Baseball Classic when he officially was named on Monday. Derek Jeter, who captained the squad in the 2009 tournament, was the only other. Another Yankees captain will now don the “C” on the global scene, sixteen years later.

Team USA manager Mark DeRosa, who is returning for his second term as head coach after guiding the Americans to a silver medal in 2023, made the news. Whilst Judge’s name is frequently linked to leadership and star power, his selection to captain Team USA validates his place in both Yankees history and American baseball in general.

“It’s a great opportunity,” Judge said Monday on MLB Network. “To wear ‘Team USA’ across my chest and have the chance to lead—it’s something I’ve always dreamed about. I never had this opportunity before, even as a kid. It’s a special honor.”

This will be Judge’s first appearance in the WBC. He sat out the 2023 edition during a pivotal offseason when he signed a nine-year, $360 million contract to remain in New York and was officially named the Yankees’ first captain since Jeter. At the time, Judge chose to remain in spring training to focus on his transition into the leadership role. Two years later, with an MVP season and a World Series appearance under his belt, the timing is right.

Judge’s captaincy doesn’t just represent a personal milestone—it deepens the symbolic link between him and Jeter. Both men were named captain of the Yankees in their early 30s. Both were seen as franchise anchors, combining humility, consistency, and elite performance. And now, both will have captained Team USA in the sport’s biggest international tournament.

From Trout to Aaron Judge: A shift in leadership

Aaron Judge’s appointment also marks a notable transition in the national team’s leadership. In 2023, the captain’s title belonged to Mike Trout, who led Team USA to the WBC final before falling 3-2 to Japan. The tournament ended in dramatic fashion, with Shohei Ohtani striking out Trout—his Los Angeles Angels teammate at the time—to secure Japan’s third WBC championship.

Trout’s leadership was unquestioned, and given his star status and strong performance, many assumed he would retain the role in 2026. But DeRosa revealed that Trout was notified ahead of the announcement—and he didn’t just accept the decision, he endorsed it.

“He should be,” Trout reportedly said when told that Judge would take over as captain.

Judge was visibly moved by the gesture, calling Trout one of the best to ever play the game. “That’s what it’s all about—the recognition from your peers,” Judge said. “Especially from Mike Trout, who’s been the best player in the game since before I came into the league. I’m still hoping he’s on the team—he better be out there patrolling the outfield with me. I know we both play right field, but we’ll figure it out.”

The numbers back up the decision. Judge is coming off a dominant 2024 season in which he hit 58 home runs, led the Yankees to the World Series, and earned his second AL MVP award. He’s continued his hot streak in 2025, batting .357 with six home runs and a major league-leading 20 RBIs through mid-April.

Trout, by contrast, hit 20 home runs last season and has matched Judge’s home run total so far this year. But his recent seasons have been marked by injuries and the Angels’ lack of postseason relevance. While Trout remains a generational talent, Judge has emerged as the face of both his franchise and, increasingly, the game itself.

That evolution wasn’t lost on DeRosa or USA Baseball. Judge brings more than power to the captaincy—he brings composure, presence, and the rare ability to lead through both words and actions. Much like Jeter did.

Yankees Legacy on the international stage

Judge’s appointment as captain makes him part of a very short list in Yankees history. Derek Jeter, who served as Team USA’s captain in 2009, helped build the foundation for American participation in the WBC. He brought championship pedigree and quiet leadership to a team still finding its identity in the tournament’s early years.

Now it’s Judge’s turn.

The 2026 WBC will begin on March 5, and while the full roster has yet to be announced, Judge is the first confirmed player. His selection gives the U.S. not only a top-tier slugger but a steady leader—a captain forged in the fire of Yankees baseball.

From the Bronx to the global stage, the lineage continues: Jeter to Judge. Two Yankees, two captains, one mission—to bring gold back to Team USA.

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