Aaron Judge has been named the 16th captain in the New York Yankees‘ storied history. He succeeds Derek Jeter, who held the captaincy from 2003 until his retirement in 2014. Judge’s appointment as captain came at the end of 2022, shortly after he secured his first MVP award. This marked a significant moment for the Yankees, who had been seeking a homegrown superstar with leadership qualities both on and off the field as Jeter’s departure.
The article also highlights Judge’s upcoming role as captain of the USA Baseball team for the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC). This strategic move is intended to encourage other major league stars to participate in the tournament, leveraging Judge’s status as a top player.
The author poses the question of weather Judge, in his dual captaincy roles, can led the yankees to their first championship as 2009 and guide Team USA to victory in the WBC, a title they haven’t held since 2017. Regardless of whether he achieves specific statistical milestones like a 40% home run rate or the highest single-season WAR in history, the article emphasizes the enjoyment of watching him play and contribute to his teams with his hitting and fielding.
