Team USA Baseball 'Fired Up' After Olympic Hockey Golds, Aims to Emulate Success

Aaron Judge and Bryce Harper express excitement to represent the U.S. in the upcoming World Baseball Classic

Mar. 3, 2026 at 12:31am

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Team USA baseball players, led by captain Aaron Judge and Bryce Harper, are feeling inspired by the recent gold medal wins of the U.S. men's and women's Olympic hockey teams. The baseball squad is eager to emulate that success as they prepare for the upcoming World Baseball Classic, where they hope to avenge their 2023 championship game loss to Japan.

Why it matters

The World Baseball Classic is a high-profile international tournament that showcases the best baseball talent from around the world. Team USA's performance in the event is seen as a reflection of American baseball prowess on the global stage. The players' enthusiasm to represent their country and build on recent U.S. Olympic triumphs adds an extra layer of excitement and national pride to the upcoming tournament.

The details

Judge, the three-time MVP for the New York Yankees, said his teammates were "fired up" after seeing the dramatic overtime wins by the U.S. men's and women's hockey teams at the Milan Cortina Games. Harper, who has played for the U.S. national team before, expressed his pride in representing the country and emphasized the team's focus on the "greater good of America" rather than individual accomplishments.

  • The 2026 World Baseball Classic is set to begin on March 6, 2026.
  • The U.S. men's and women's hockey teams won gold medals at the Milan Cortina Games in February 2026.

The players

Aaron Judge

The three-time MVP for the New York Yankees and captain of the U.S. baseball team.

Bryce Harper

A first baseman for the U.S. baseball team who has previously played for the U.S. national team.

Megyn Keller

The U.S. women's hockey player who scored the overtime goal to defeat Canada in the Milan Cortina Games.

Jack Hughes

The U.S. men's hockey player who scored the overtime goal to defeat Canada in the Milan Cortina Games.

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What they’re saying

“Boys were fired up. Hughes, man, we sent so many pictures of Hughes in the group text. It was great.”

— Aaron Judge, Team USA baseball captain

“I learned when I was young, when you put U.S. on our hats, it's about us. That's why it's only U.S. and not USA. It's about us. So, for our team, it's about everybody that's in that clubhouse. No matter where you came from, who you played for, what you got, we don't care because every single day we come out here, it's for the greater good of America. What we're doing for the people, who we're representing.”

— Bryce Harper, U.S. baseball team member

What’s next

The U.S. baseball team will begin its World Baseball Classic schedule on March 6, 2026, when it faces Brazil at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas.

The takeaway

The U.S. baseball team's enthusiasm to represent their country and build on recent Olympic successes adds an extra layer of excitement and national pride to the upcoming World Baseball Classic. The players' focus on the "greater good of America" and their desire to "copy" the heroics of the U.S. hockey teams underscores the team's commitment to bringing home a gold medal for the United States.