Team USA baseball team inspired by winning hockey before the WBC, says Aaron Judge

As the World Baseball Classic (WBC) kicks off this week, another edition of Team USA is on the baseball diamond, preparing to bring home the gold medal.

The US has fared well in recent sporting events, including the men’s and women’s ice hockey teams, which defeated both Canada At the Milan Cortina Games last month. Both games ended in overtime goals, with Megyn Keller’s backhand heroics for the women and Jack Hughes’ heroics for the men.

Team USA baseball captain Aaron JudgeThe three-time MVP for the New York Yankees appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Monday, where he admitted that his hockey performance was getting his teammates fired for the WBC.

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Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees speaks to the media after being named captain of the 2026 WBC Team USA during the game between the Kansas City Royals and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Monday, April 14, 2025 in New York, New York. (Mary DeCicco/MLB Photo)

“The guys were fired up,” McAfee said when asked his thoughts on Hughes’ goal in particular. “Hughes, man, we sent a lot of pictures of Hughes in group texts. It was great.

“It’s pretty cool that it’s going to snowball. The same excitement we had when I was with the Yankees, and then with the group text, the kids got excited. Now, it’s the WBC, we get a chance to throw on the red, white and blue and copy what they did.”

The judge added that it was a “special run” by both men and women.

Of course, Judge hopes the two weeks away from the Yankees will be beneficial, as the U.S. looks to avenge its loss to Japan in the championship game by winning silver during the 2023 WBC.

Judge’s teammate, first baseman Bryce Harpershared the same sentiment as his captain. Harper has worn the Stars and Stripes for some time, playing for the under-18 national team in 2008.

Philadelphia Phillies’ Bryce Harper looks to be ejected after arguing a checked swing during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Sagola)

He announced that he will play for the 2023 WBC team, but is rehabilitating from Tommy John surgery that has prevented him from playing.

He is now healthy and eager to represent his country once again.

When it was his turn to don the headset on McAfee’s show, he explained, “I learned as a kid, when you put our hats on the US, it’s about us.” “That’s why it’s just USA and not USA. It’s about us. So, for our team, it’s about every single person in that clubhouse. Where you’re from, who you’ve played for, what you’ve got, it doesn’t matter to us because every day we come here, it’s for the good of America. What we’re doing for the people, who we’re representing.

Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees speaks to the media after being named captain of the 2026 WBC Team USA during the game between the Kansas City Royals and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Monday, April 14, 2025 in New York, New York. (Mary DeCicco/MLB Photo)

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“I’m proud to be an American. I’m so happy to be in this clubhouse with all these guys and there’s no greater feeling than walking out to hear the national anthem over the speakers. Know what you represent.”

Team USA opens its WBC schedule against Brazil on March 6 at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas.

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