Aaron Judge on Wednesday crushed a 453-foot (165.5m) solo homer in the first inning of the US’ exhibition game against the Colorado Rockies, with the US captain drawing a roar from the crowd followed by “U-S-A” chants in a packed ballpark at Salt River Fields.
Judge’s no-doubter to left field off southpaw Kyle Freeland left his bat at 115.9mph (186.5kph). The three-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) is trying to lead the Americans to their first World Baseball Classic (WBC) title since 2017.
The US lost 3-2 in the 2023 final when Japan’s Shohei Ohtani ended the game by striking out Mike Trout. Japan have won three of five WBC titles. The Dominican Republic won in 2013.
Photo: AFP
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Judge said. “Getting a chance to be surrounded by the greatness we have in this room — MVPs, Cy Young winners, World Series champs, All-Stars — the list goes on and on. It’s going to be a cool experience. You get the chance to play for your country and also learn a thing or two.”
Alex Bregman also homered, part of a five-homer day for the US in a 14-4 win.
The US are to travel to Houston for their Pool B opener against Brazil today. Pool games this year are being held in Tokyo, Houston, Miami and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
A much-improved pitching staff includes Paul Skenes, Tarik Skubal and Mason Miller, and the batting order likely would include Judge, Cal Raleigh, Kyle Schwarber and Bobby Witt Jr.
Having watched the last two tournaments, Skenes had hoped to receive an invite from US manager Mark DeRosa.
“When DeRo called, it was like, just: ‘Yeah, I’m in. You don’t need to talk me into this or anything,’” said Skenes, who played two seasons at the US Air Force Academy before transferring to Louisiana State University. “It was a quick yes.”
Players have been in contact with each other long before reporting this week.
“The group chat’s been firing away for the last couple of months,” Philadelphia’s Bryce Harper said.
Japan are trying to win their fourth title and become only the second repeat champions after the 2006 and 2009 Samurai Warriors.
Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto have some experience at consecutive titles after helping last year’s Los Angeles Dodgers become the first repeat World Series champions since the 1998-2000 Yankees won three in a row.
“Going back to back, that is our only goal,” Yamamoto said through a translator.
Yamamoto, the World Series MVP, is scheduled to start Japan’s opener against Taiwan today. Los Angeles is allowing him to pitch for Japan after he threw 211 innings last year, including the post-season.
“The Dodgers understand how big the WBC tournament is, big in Japan,” he said. “The Dodgers and the WBC, they both are very important to me equally.”
Seeking its first title since 2013, the Dominican Republic have a roster that includes six players who finished among the top 10 in MVP voting last year: Junior Caminero, Jeremy Pena. Geraldo Perdomo, Julio Rodriguez, Juan Soto and Fernando Tatis Jr.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr, Manny Machado and Ketel Marte also are on a roster that includes pitchers Sandy Alcantara and Cristopher Sanchez.
“It can be a headache also because you have so much talent. You wish that you can make everybody happy,” Dominican manager Albert Pujols said. ”The Dominican Republic has been blessed with so many talent.”
Venezuela, with the Dominicans in Group D, are led by Ronald Acuna Jr, Jackson Chourio, Eugenio Suarez, and William and Willson Contreras.
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