Yankees Star Aaron Judge Sends Controversial Message on World Baseball Classic

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Dibyendu Mondal | Last updated Mar 16, 2026 9:32 AM ET

Team USA is in the World Baseball Classic finals after a 2-1 victory over the Dominican Republic on Sunday. Paul Skenes’ power arm produced two strikeouts across 4 1/3 innings. Of the six hits he allowed, only one left the park.

Captain Aaron Judge provided two game-changing defensive plays. A precise right-field throw that retired Fernando Tatis Jr. at third and a full-extension dive to erase a hit, both helping preserve Team USA’s slim victory.

The matchup was one of the most anticipated fixtures. Unsurprisingly, it drew an enthusiastic crowd to loanDepot Park—a sellout of 36,337. The atmosphere swelled on several occasions, prompting Judge to make a rather controversial admission.

United States right fielder Aaron Judge (99) reacts after hitting a single in the first inning against the Dominican Republic.© Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

"It's been bigger. The World Series I was in," he said. "The crowd here, the crowd we had when we played Mexico. It's bigger & better than the World Series. The passion these fans have. There's nothing like it."

The New York Yankees star's lone appearance in the World Series came in 2024 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Attendance that year was near a record high. A total of 1,920,165 fans attended the games, the second-highest figure after 2003. Over the five games, total attendance was 253,104.

These numbers are not far off from the metrics at the WBC, which is why the statement proved controversial for some fans.

Aaron Judge says the WBC crowds are "bigger & better" than the World Series:

"It's been bigger. The World Series I was in. The crowd here, the crowd we had when we played Mexico. It's bigger & better than the World Series. The passion these fans have. There's nothing like it." pic.twitter.com/4WRBP7Xvt8
— Doug McKain (@DMAC_LA) March 16, 2026

Judge's performance in that series was disappointing compared to his showing on Sunday. He hit just .222 with one home run and three RBIs against the Dodgers in 2024. In the WBC, across six games, he has hit .261 with two home runs and five RBIs. His improved performance could be one reason for the admission.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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