Aaron Judge Calls World Baseball Classic Crowds 'Bigger and Better' Than the World Series
The World Baseball Classic keeps getting bigger, and according to Aaron Judge, the atmosphere might even top baseball’s biggest stage.
After Team USA edged out the Dominican Republic national baseball team in a dramatic 2-1 semifinal win, the American captain said the energy inside Miami’s loanDepot Park felt even more intense than the World Series.
“The World Series I was in, the crowd here, the crowd we had when we played against Mexico, it’s bigger and better than the World Series,” Judge said after Sunday’s game, per AP. “The passion that these fans have, representing their country, representing some of their favorite players, there’s nothing like it.”
The comment highlights just how massive the World Baseball Classic 2026 has become as international baseball continues to explode in popularity.
WBC Semifinal Delivers Star Power and High Drama
Sunday’s matchup was packed with star power. Lineups featured 17 All-Stars across the two teams, combining for 56 career All-Star selections, along with five MVP awards, a Cy Young winner, five Rookie of the Year awards, and three batting titles.
On the U.S. side, Judge was joined by stars like Bryce Harper, while the Dominican roster included heavy hitters such as Juan Soto and Vladimir Guerrero Jr..
The Dominican Republic struck first when Junior Caminero launched a home run off Paul Skenes in the second inning, celebrating with a dramatic bat flip that energized the crowd.
But the Americans responded in the fourth inning.
Gunnar Henderson tied the game with a solo shot off Luis Severino, and moments later Roman Anthony gave Team USA the lead with another homer, this time off Gregory Soto.
For Anthony, the moment was especially surreal.
The 21-year-old outfielder revealed he actually attended the 2023 World Baseball Classic final in Miami as a fan.
“Coming to the WBC here, you dream of representing this country and being here the next time around,” Anthony said.
Electric Defense From Both Teams
The semifinal wasn’t just about power hitting — the defense was equally jaw-dropping.
In the third inning, Judge unleashed a 95.7 mph throw from right field to nail Fernando Tatis Jr. at third base. An inning later, he made a diving catch to rob Soto of a hit. Meanwhile, Julio Rodríguez kept the game close by making a highlight-reel grab at the center-field wall to steal what looked like a Judge home run.
“I was like, OK, maybe we got a shot here,” Judge recalled. “But hit it to a guy like J-Rod, who’s one of the best if not the best center fielder in the game, he’s going make exciting plays like that in big moments.”
Another defensive gem came from Bobby Witt Jr., who turned a slow grounder from Soto into a dazzling double play by sprinting across the infield, tagging second base, and firing to first.
Dominant Pitching Seals Team USA Win
Team USA’s bullpen ultimately slammed the door.
American relievers combined for 4⅔ scoreless innings, allowing just two hits. Fireballer Mason Miller closed things out, topping 100 mph on multiple pitches.
The game ended with some drama, though. On a full count, Dominican hitter Geraldo Perdomo appeared to take ball four — but home plate umpire Cory Blaser emphatically called strike three to end the game.
“Just a game we’ll remember forever, right?” Team USA manager Mark DeRosa said. “We understood this was going to be a talked-about game, probably one of the most watched games of all time.”
Aaron Judge Looks Ahead to the World Baseball Classic Final
After the win, Judge addressed his teammates in the clubhouse and looked ahead to the World Baseball Classic championship game, where the U.S. will face either Venezuela national baseball team or Italy national baseball team.
Even before the first pitch Sunday night, Judge said he could tell it was going to be special.
“You get chills standing there on the line, hearing them announce all the names,” he said. “It was like an All-Star team they got over there.”