Mark DeRosa’s Pursuit of Aaron Judge for Team USA

Mark DeRosa had a hunch that bringing Aaron Judge into the fold for the 2026 World Baseball Classic would open the door for other American players. The idea of a “Dream Team” was enticing, but it all hinged on Judge’s willingness to participate.

Last year, DeRosa attempted to convince the Yankees’ star outfielder to join Team USA for the international tournament. Unfortunately, the U.S. team fell short in a nail-biting championship against Japan. Amid his free agency journey—eventually leading him back to the Bronx and to the role of captain—Judge chose not to play.

This time, however, things seemed different. Recently, DeRosa shared insights about the team-building process on “The Show with Joel Sherman & Jon Heyman.” He revealed that he had talked to Yankees legend Andy Pettitte, who hinted that Judge was open to joining if it was truly wanted.

With that information in hand, DeRosa didn’t waste any time. He reached out to Judge to make his pitch. “I told him I wouldn’t bug him all year, but I wanted him to be the captain of Team USA and be a central figure in this,” DeRosa explained.

Within just two days, Judge expressed his desire to be involved. “I want to do it,” he said. DeRosa began planning, putting together a list of potential players and strategies in his apartment during quiet nights.

The first player he reached out to was Pirates ace Paul Skeens. DeRosa recognized the challenge of securing elite pitchers for the tournament, and it turned out that Skeens was eager to represent his country, especially given his two years of service in the Air Force.

With Judge and Skeens secured, DeRosa started attracting even more talent. Team USA now boasts a remarkable roster featuring a collective 65 All-Star selections and six Cy Young Award winners.

Judge recently commented, “Now is the time to do it. America might have lagged a bit back in 2023, but this is an exciting group. DeRosa has assembled quite a team, and I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds.”