Aaron Judge has led the Yankees to the 2024 World Series, but as the captain of Team USA, he’s finding the current atmosphere even more thrilling.
“I think it’s even bigger than the World Series,” Judge shared with reporters after Team USA’s nail-biting 2-1 win against the Dominican Republic at Lawn Depot Park in Miami. “The energy from the crowd during the World Series, especially against Mexico, felt more intense—almost better than the actual Series.”
He noted the unmatched passion fans display for their home country and favorite players.
After narrowly advancing to the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic, thanks to Italy defeating Mexico, Team USA is now just one win away from claiming its first championship since 2017.
Judge’s performance has been impressive: he’s maintained a batting average of .261/.414/.565, with two home runs and five RBIs, while also showcasing remarkable defensive skills.
In contrast, during the Yankees’ loss to the Dodgers in the 2024 Fall Classic, Judge struggled, finishing with a .222 average, one home run, and committed a crucial error in Game 5.
On Sunday, he executed a phenomenal play, striking out Fernando Tatis Jr., who was trying to advance on a single from Ketel Marte, thus wrapping up the third inning. He also made a stunning diving catch against former teammate Juan Soto in the following inning.
In the fifth, Judge nearly hit his third home run of the tournament, but Mariners star Julio Rodriguez leaped to rob him with an incredible catch.
“I thought I had a shot,” Judge admitted, “but with a player like J. Rod, who is arguably one of the best center fielders today, you just expect those kinds of plays in critical moments.”
Team USA initially took the lead in the second inning with a home run by Paul Skeens off Junior Caminero, followed by blasts from Gunnar Henderson and rookie Roman Anthony.
The Dominican Republic’s powerful offense was limited to just one run as Team USA’s bullpen, alongside some controversial strike calls, secured the victory in front of 36,337 fans.
“We proved we’re the best in baseball,” said a frustrated Juan Soto post-game, referring to a controversial called strike that ended the match. “That’s all I’ll say.”
Team USA is poised to compete for the title against the winner of Monday’s game between Italy and Venezuela, which previously eliminated Japan.
Reflecting on the experience, Judge said, “It’s what you dream of as a kid—hitting whiffle balls in the backyard. This is the moment you envision. Big spots, big situations; I’m getting chills just thinking about it. I try to soak it all in and appreciate every moment and the crowd.”
“It’s truly a blessing to step out on that field.”
