Aaron Judge Talks Yankees Running Back Same Team, WBC Prep & ABS System

WBC & Offseason Preparation

• 💡 Aaron Judge didn't significantly alter his offseason routine for the WBC, only starting to throw earlier due to a past elbow injury.
• ✅ His elbow is 100% healed and feels great, with no issues, attributing its recovery to the training staff's guidance to keep throwing throughout the offseason.
• 🎯 Judge aims to get sufficient at-bats in spring training to be ready for both the Yankees' first game and the WBC.

Yankees Team Outlook

• 🗣️ Aaron Boone's message to the team emphasized the "standard of being a New York Yankee," focusing on hard work and the legacy of the organization.
• ⚾ Judge expressed excitement about the team's composition, highlighting the return of impact players like Cody Bellinger, Paul Goldschmidt, and Trent Grisham, and the addition of Gerrit Cole.
• 📈 He believes in the development of younger players and the overall potential of the team, despite initial offseason frustrations about slow free agency moves.
• 🤝 Judge values the open-door policy with manager Aaron Boone, allowing him to voice team opinions and foster a supportive dynamic.

Adapting to New Rules & Growth

• 🧠 Judge is focusing on base running this year to utilize new rule changes (pickoffs, pitch clock) and get into scoring position more often.
• 🤖 He is excited but cautious about the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system, planning to be aggressive in spring training to understand its strategy, especially regarding challenges.
• 🔑 Judge attributes his humility and mental maturation to his family, coaches, and learning from past setbacks and experiences, which he now shares with younger players.

WBC Excitement & Rivalries

• 🇺🇸 Judge is eager to represent the USA in the WBC, calling it a "powerful" opportunity and great for baseball fans worldwide.
• ⚔️ He anticipates a "heavyweight fight" against Team Japan, acknowledging their strong roster as reigning champions and looking forward to a potential showdown with Shohei Ohtani.
• 🏆 His ultimate goal is to bring the gold home for the USA, driven by the team's enthusiasm and preparation.