USA team head coach DeRosa explains why captain Judge is the core of the "Avengers" lineup

As the World Baseball Classic (WBC) kicks off this March, Team USA unveiled a luxurious lineup. Head coach Mark DeRosa confirmed in an interview that Aaron Judge, known as "The Judge," and the top draft pick fireballer Paul Skenes have been established as the two main pillars in offense and pitching, and he shared insider details on how this "Avengers" team was put together.

After narrowly losing to Japan in the 2023 Classic final, this year's USA team has gathered the strongest talent in recent years, aiming to reclaim glory. The batting lineup is led by captain Judge, alongside elite hitters like Cal Raleigh, Kyle Schwarber, and Bobby Witt Jr.; the pitching staff features Cy Young lefty Tarik Skubal and rising ace Skenes, making the roster star-studded and highly talked about.

DeRosa highlighted that the key to forming this dream team was players willingly stepping up to lead. "The foundation of this team comes from players who are ready to take on leadership roles," he emphasized. "With Judge among the hitters and Skenes among the pitchers, the team naturally has two solid pillars."

Regarding the formation details, DeRosa revealed that Judge had expressed his desire to participate as early as last spring training through pitching coach Andy Pettitte, and DeRosa personally called to confirm. "He told me then he was 100% committed to playing." More importantly, Judge volunteered to serve as captain, becoming the spiritual leader of the entire USA squad.

As for Skenes’ role, DeRosa clearly stated that he will be positioned as a starting pitcher. "He (Skenes) wants to be in an environment where he can learn and grow alongside others, and he made that very clear." This shows that Team USA values not only his immediate impact but also expects this young ace to continue evolving through international competition.