TAMPA, Fla. - Aaron Judge has been fielding questions from family and friends about Team USA's perceived lack of exuberance in the World Baseball Classic, especially when compared to teams like Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Italy, and Mexico. Judge, however, believes that passion comes in many forms.
"Everyone's different. Every culture brings its own flavor to the game," Judge shared on Friday.
"I loved what Mexico, Great Britain, and the D.R. were doing with their celebrations. It was incredible to see how their fans got into it."
Judge emphasized that passion isn't always about outward displays. "My passion is rooted in the hard work I put in when no one's watching, like grinding in the cage or playing in the backyard with my dad as a kid.
Just because I don't show it outwardly doesn't mean I don't love the game. Everyone in that clubhouse had the time of their lives over the past few weeks, myself included.
We had a blast."
Judge is eager to don the Team USA jersey again, with the next opportunity potentially coming at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. While MLB hasn't finalized player participation, there's hope that a full roster of MLB stars could compete.
Judge is also looking forward to the next World Baseball Classic and supports the idea of holding it mid-season. "If we can have it during the season, that'd be great.
There are so many restrictions right now. If everyone’s built up and there are no limitations, it would elevate the game."
Reflecting on the WBC, Judge wishes for that same energy during the MLB season. He described the atmosphere during Team USA's game against Mexico as one of the most electric he's ever experienced. However, he acknowledges that maintaining such intensity over a 162-game season is challenging.
"It's tough to keep that energy up for 162 games," Judge admitted. "But I love the flair and excitement.
It's fantastic for the fans and inspiring for young kids watching their heroes. It was special, but replicating it all season is tough."
Now, Judge is shifting his focus to leading the Yankees to a World Series title, something they haven't achieved since 2009. With the season opener against the San Francisco Giants approaching, Judge is optimistic about the Yankees' pitching depth, calling it the best they've had in years.
"Adding those pitchers and having Cody Bellinger back is huge for us," Judge said. "It all comes down to the details. We've had rough patches in the past, but if we can iron those out, we're in for a great season."