In the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Team USA lost 3-2 to Japan in the championship game. One notable absence in that tournament was New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who had just signed a nine-year, $360 million extension and wanted to use the time to get ready for spring training.
But that’s going to change in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, as Judge has announced that he plans to play for Team USA. The team has already announced that Judge will replace Mike Trout as captain. That raises an interesting question, one that a lot of people are asking: was Trout snubbed by the powers that be?
Was Mike Trout Snubbed by Team USA?
Trout served as captain of Team USA during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. But replacing him with Judge isn’t a bad move. The Yankees’ slugger is currently the most dangerous hitter in baseball, hitting 58+ home runs in two of his last three seasons while earning two American League MVP awards in three years. Meanwhile, Trout has struggled to stay healthy, failing to play 100 games in three consecutive years.
“I wanted to be there… I was looking forward to this opportunity again.”
Aaron Judge announces he will be playing for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/dPAUza9yyC
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) April 14, 2025
On top of that, Trout will be 34 years old at the next World Baseball Classic. While the Angels’ star stated that he’d be open to playing for Team USA once again, there’s no guarantee that he’ll be on the team.
Perhaps once the tournament rolls around next March, Trout may change his mind and want to use the time to get ready for the next season, especially since he’s dealt with injuries, including a meniscus tear in his left knee that sidelined him in 2024.
As captain of the Yankees, Judge has experience in leading a team. All Rise for the Judge in the Bronx. That’s not to say that Trout doesn’t have strong leadership, but Judge is still in his prime, so it makes sense to appoint him as captain.
Can Judge Lead USA to a World Baseball Classic Title?
While the 2023 WBC ended in disappointment, there’s a good chance Team USA gets it done in 2026. Now that Judge — arguably the most prolific power hitter of our generation — is in the lineup, it’s going to be tough to stop this team. With Judge playing, perhaps we’ll see other stars like Bryce Harper and Bobby Witt Jr. join the squad.
BREAKING: Aaron Judge will play for Team USA at the 2026 World Baseball Classic and will serve as the team captain, he announced on MLB Network.
Judge previously did not play in the 2023 World Baseball Classic when Team USA lost to Japan. pic.twitter.com/q228Ygbjyk
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 14, 2025
Japan and the Dominican Republic should have formidable rosters as well. The Japanese still have stars like Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, while the D.R. is stacked with talented stars like Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Needless to say, it’s going to be an interesting tournament once 2026 rolls around. Don’t be surprised to see Judge put on a show.