Aaron Judge as Team USA World Baseball Classic captain is 'the right thing'
Story by
Aaron Judge as Team USA World Baseball Classic captain is 'the right thing'
Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY·USA TODAY Sports
·
2 min read
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Aaron Boone believes his three-time American League MVP is perfectly suited for theWorld Baseball Classic.
"The fact thatAaron Judgeis captaining the U.S. team," theYankeesmanager said of his prized right fielder, "I think it's the right thing."
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
In an appearance on the Yankees' YES Network, Boone downplayed the possibility of injury for his superstar and captain of the Bronx Bombers, noting that Judge could benefit from the high level of competition the WBC provides at a time most players are simply getting reps in during spring training games.
Yet the small samples of WBC play tend to overblow both the injury risk and the potential impact for participants.
Since 2000, future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols' 101.3 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) leads all players, with Alex Rodriguez tied for second ways back at 89.7 WAR. See the rest of the top 25.
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
2. Alex Rodriguez - 89.7
(Al Bello, Getty Images)
3. Adrian Beltre - 89.7
(Kevin Jairaj, Imagn Images)
4. Mike Trout - 87.5
(Joe Nicholson, Imagn Images)
5. Justin Verlander - 82.2
(Thomas Shea, Imagn Images)
6. Clayton Kershaw - 78.1
(Ron Chenoy, Imagn Images)
7. Mookie Betts - 75.2
(Tommy Gilligan, Imagn Images)
8. Max Scherzer - 74.7
(Brad Mills, Imagn Images)
9. Zack Greinke - 72.4
(Jasen Vinlove, Imagn Images)
10. Robinson Cano - 68.7
(Kelvin Kuo, Imagn Images)
11. Miguel Cabrera - 67.2
(Quinn Harris, Imagn Images)
12. Carlos Beltran - 65.1
(Dale Zanine, Imagn Images)
13. Chase Utley - 64.6
(Scott Rovak, Imagn Images)
14. Freddie Freeman - 64.2
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
15. Paul Goldschmidt - 63.8
(Jeff Curry, Imagn Images)
16. Joey Votto - 63.6
(Michael McLoone, Imagn Images)
17. Roy Halladay - 62.4
(Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images)
18. Aaron Judge - 62.3
(Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images)
19. CC Sabathia - 61.8
(Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images)
20. Manny Machado - 61.7
(Denis Poroy, Imagn Images)
21. Ichiro Suzuki - 60
(Darren Yamashita, Imagn Images)
22. Mark Buehrle - 60
(Kyle Terada, Imagn Images)
23. Barry Bonds - 59.1
(Jack Gruber, USA TODAY)
24. Evan Longoria - 58.9
(Kim Klement, Imagn Images)
25. Chipper Jones - 58.3
(Darren Hauck, for USA TODAY)
1/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
Since 2000, future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols' 101.3 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) leads all players, with Alex Rodriguez tied for second ways back at 89.7 WAR. See the rest of the top 25.
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
1/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
Since 2000, future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols' 101.3 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) leads all players, with Alex Rodriguez tied for second ways back at 89.7 WAR. See the rest of the top 25.
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
2/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
2. Alex Rodriguez - 89.7
(Al Bello, Getty Images)
3/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
3. Adrian Beltre - 89.7
(Kevin Jairaj, Imagn Images)
4/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
4. Mike Trout - 87.5
(Joe Nicholson, Imagn Images)
5/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
5. Justin Verlander - 82.2
(Thomas Shea, Imagn Images)
6/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
6. Clayton Kershaw - 78.1
(Ron Chenoy, Imagn Images)
7/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
7. Mookie Betts - 75.2
(Tommy Gilligan, Imagn Images)
8/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
8. Max Scherzer - 74.7
(Brad Mills, Imagn Images)
9/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
9. Zack Greinke - 72.4
(Jasen Vinlove, Imagn Images)
10/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
10. Robinson Cano - 68.7
(Kelvin Kuo, Imagn Images)
11/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
11. Miguel Cabrera - 67.2
(Quinn Harris, Imagn Images)
12/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
12. Carlos Beltran - 65.1
(Dale Zanine, Imagn Images)
13/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
13. Chase Utley - 64.6
(Scott Rovak, Imagn Images)
14/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
14. Freddie Freeman - 64.2
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
15/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
15. Paul Goldschmidt - 63.8
(Jeff Curry, Imagn Images)
16/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
16. Joey Votto - 63.6
(Michael McLoone, Imagn Images)
17/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
17. Roy Halladay - 62.4
(Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images)
18/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
18. Aaron Judge - 62.3
(Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images)
19/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
19. CC Sabathia - 61.8
(Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images)
20/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
20. Manny Machado - 61.7
(Denis Poroy, Imagn Images)
21/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
21. Ichiro Suzuki - 60
(Darren Yamashita, Imagn Images)
22/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
22. Mark Buehrle - 60
(Kyle Terada, Imagn Images)
23/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
23. Barry Bonds - 59.1
(Jack Gruber, USA TODAY)
24/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
24. Evan Longoria - 58.9
(Kim Klement, Imagn Images)
25/25
Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
25. Chipper Jones - 58.3
(Darren Hauck, for USA TODAY)
Similarly, the starring roles often emerge from unlikely sources.PhiladelphiashortstopTrea Turnermade the most of his 23 at-bats in six games – clubbing six home runs, including a dramatic grand slam against Venezuela in the quarterfinals.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Indeed, sometimes it's the less-vaunted sluggers who get the best pitches to hit. And Judge – who drew 124 walks to lead the AL last season – is certainly accustomed to waiting his turn. Not that he won't have any help: Team USA has received commitments fromKyle Schwarber,Cal RaleighandBobby Witt Jr.– the latter two MVP runner-ups to Judge the past two seasons – with others sure to join.
Judge will get a taste of that rare environment - combining global superstar power with collegiality and camaraderie - and that alone could outweigh the perceived injury risk.
"Obviously, there's certain times that come up," says Boone. "But you also realize the value that it can provide for these guys to go really compete at this level. I think in some cases, even some of our pitchers, it forces them into having a better offseason ramp-up to get ready for this."
