HOUSTON, Texas — Aaron Judge keeps reminding the world why he is the most feared hitter on the planet. He just has not been able to do it when it matters most for the New York Yankees.
The Yankees captain put on a two-way show Monday night at Daikin Park, launching an opposite-field two-run homer off Mexico’s Jesus Cruz and firing a 91.8 mph laser from right field to gun down a runner at third base. Both plays came in the third inning of Team USA’s 5-3 victory over Mexico in World Baseball Classic Pool B action.
The sellout crowd of 41,628, heavily pro-Mexico, went quiet when Judge sent Cruz’s pitch over the wall in right to snap a scoreless tie. Boston’s Roman Anthony followed with a three-run blast later in the inning that blew the game open. Paul Skenes struck out seven batters over four shutout innings on the mound.
The win pushed the United States to 3-0 in Pool B with a matchup against Italy up next.
Judge makes his case as WBC’s best player
It was the second home run of the tournament for Judge, who also went deep in his very first WBC plate appearance against Brazil on March 7. That night, the Yankees superstar crushed a 3-0 sweeper 405 feet into the seats at what was then called Minute Maid Park.
But the defensive play against Mexico may have been even more significant. In the top of the third, Mexico’s Joey Ortiz reached on an error and tried to advance to third on a Jarren Duran single to right. Judge charged the ball and uncorked a strike to third baseman Alex Bregman, who slapped the tag to end the threat.
Skenes, the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner who was pitching at the time, could not contain his admiration.
“I think I gave up one hit, but it didn’t matter because Judge threw him out at third,” Skenes said. “One of the best throws I’ve seen.”
The throw carried extra weight for Yankees fans. Judge dealt with elbow issues for much of last season that raised concerns about his arm strength in right field. Monday’s cannon from deep right should quiet that talk heading into the regular season.
The three-time MVP without a ring
And yet, for all the highlights Judge collects on the global stage, one uncomfortable truth follows him everywhere. The greatest Yankee of his generation has never won a World Series.
Judge won his third American League MVP in 2025 after hitting .331 with 53 home runs and 114 RBIs. He led the league in on-base percentage (.457) and slugging (.688). He was the best player in baseball for six months. None of it mattered in October.
The Yankees were bounced from the ALDS by the Toronto Blue Jays in four games. It was the second straight year the Bombers fell short after losing the 2024 World Series to the Dodgers. The championship drought in the Bronx now stretches to 16 seasons.
Judge’s career postseason numbers tell a painful story. In 63 playoff games, he owns a .217 average and a .787 OPS, with a 31.8 percent strikeout rate. His regular-season OPS is roughly 250 points higher than his October mark. That gap is among the widest for any star of his caliber in baseball history.
He did have a signature moment in 2025, ripping a game-tying three-run homer in ALDS Game 3 to stave off elimination. It tied Hall of Famer David Ortiz for the most career homers with a team facing elimination. But it was not enough. The Blue Jays closed the series the next night, and Judge was left to explain another early exit.
“We didn’t do our job, didn’t finish the goal,” Judge said after Game 4. “Had a special group in here. Lotta special players that made this year fun. But didn’t get the ultimate prize.”
Can the WBC change the narrative?
Some around the Yankees believe this tournament could help. Judge skipped the 2023 Classic. This time, he was the first player to commit to Team USA. Manager Mark DeRosa named him captain in April 2025 after getting a tip from former Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte that Judge was interested.
DeRosa built the roster around the 6-foot-7 slugger, and Judge has responded with the same fire Yankees fans see every summer. He is hitting, throwing and leading in a high-pressure international setting. Team USA needs to beat Italy on Tuesday to clinch a quarterfinal spot. If the Americans make a deep run, Judge will be at the center of it.
But the WBC is not October. A gold medal, however special, would not erase the sting of 16 years without a Yankees championship. Judge knows that better than anyone.
“You never want to end your season on a low note,” Judge said earlier in camp. “The last thing you want is to let it affect you, but at the same time, you can use games like that as a way to motivate you.”
With Opening Day barely two weeks away, the Yankees captain looks sharp. His bat is alive. His arm is healthy. The question is whether any of it will translate when the Yankees chase October again.
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