Bryce Harper Excited to Play with Yankees' Aaron Judge at WBC

Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper shares his enthusiasm for teaming up with New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge on Team USA in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper expressed his excitement about playing alongside New York Yankees star Aaron Judge on Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Harper noted that having Judge hit behind him will be "a lot of fun" and that he's looking forward to representing his country on the big stage. Meanwhile, Yankees manager Aaron Boone acknowledged the growing popularity of the WBC but also voiced concerns about his players potentially getting injured during the tournament.

Why it matters

The World Baseball Classic is a prestigious international baseball tournament that brings together the top players from around the world to compete for their home countries. Harper and Judge's participation highlights the event's growing significance, as two of MLB's biggest stars will team up to try to lead the United States to its second WBC title. However, Boone's comments reflect the potential risks that teams face when their star players compete in the WBC rather than focusing solely on preparing for the MLB season.

The details

In an interview, Harper said he's "really excited" to play with Judge and the rest of the Team USA roster, noting that it will feel like he's a young player again representing his country. Harper also expressed enthusiasm about facing off against some of his Phillies teammates who will be playing for other countries in the tournament. Meanwhile, Yankees manager Aaron Boone acknowledged the WBC's growing popularity but also voiced concerns about his players potentially getting injured while participating in the event.

  • The 2026 World Baseball Classic is scheduled to take place in the coming months.
  • Harper and Judge will be teammates on Team USA for the tournament.
  • Boone's comments about the WBC were made on February 2, 2026.

The players

Bryce Harper

An outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies who will be representing Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Aaron Judge

A star outfielder for the New York Yankees who will be leading Team USA as they look to win the World Baseball Classic for the first time since 2017.

Aaron Boone

The manager of the New York Yankees, who expressed both enthusiasm and concern about his players participating in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

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What they’re saying

“I'm into the feeling of putting USA on your chest and playing for something so much bigger than yourself, representing your whole country going in. There's nothing greater. Having Aaron Judge hit behind me is going to be a lot of fun as well. That's going to be really cool. I'm really excited to play with him and play with a lot of guys on that team.”

— Bryce Harper (OnPattison)

“You're starting to see now, from the U.S. side, guys don't want to miss out on this. It's at that point of popularity, maybe it's at its peak. But we have seven, eight, nine guys in it... like, damn, let's get through it. Especially the pitchers. But ultimately, [the WBC] is good for the game.”

— Aaron Boone, Yankees Manager (WFAN)

What’s next

The 2026 World Baseball Classic is scheduled to take place in the coming months, with Team USA looking to win the tournament for the first time since 2017.

The takeaway

The participation of stars like Bryce Harper and Aaron Judge in the World Baseball Classic highlights the growing popularity and prestige of the international tournament, but also raises concerns from MLB teams about the potential for player injuries during the event.