Aaron Judge talks preparing for the Dominican Republic and drowning out the noise
As Aaron Judge’s USA faces the Dominican Republic in the WBC semifinals, the Yankees slugger takes us into his mindset.
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The U.S. Baseball team will face the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic semifinals Sunday night in Miami. The right to participate in the championship match will be determined by whether the team wins or goes home.
The American team advanced 3-1 in the first round but had to fight its fate, defeating Canada 5-3 in the quarterfinals on Friday. The Dominican Republic went 5-0 in the WBC and 4-0 in pool play, defeating South Korea 10-0 and advancing to the final four.
National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skeens became Team USA’s starting pitcher after pitching four scoreless innings with seven strikeouts in the Americans’ victory over Mexico. Right-hander Luis Severino pitched for the Dominican Republic.
The winner will face either Venezuela or Italy in the final at Lawndepot Park on Tuesday, March 17th.
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The Dominican Republic loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth inning on a double by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. against Paul Skeens. After Manny Machado singled, Skenes hit Julio Rodriguez with two outs, bringing Austin Wells to the plate. On the fifth pitch of his at-bat, Skeens sent Wells into the left field seats, striking out all three runners.
Gregory Soto was in a left-to-left matchup with Roman Anthony, but the Boston Red Sox phenom hit a go-ahead solo homer to center field, giving Team USA a 2-1 advantage.
Gunnar Henderson, who joined the batting lineup with incredible numbers against DR starter Luis Severino (7 hits for 9 total), hit a solo home run to right-center field in the top of the 4th inning, tying the WBC semifinals at 1-1.
When Severino hit his next batter, Dominican Republic manager Albert Pujols made a pitching change, bringing in left-hander Gregory Soto, who faced Roman Anthony with one out.
In the bottom of the third inning, with the top out, Fernando Tatis Jr. tried to get to first and third base on Ketel Marte’s single to right field, but Aaron Judge made a perfect pitch to put Tatis on third base and end the inning. It was the second time in the 2026 WBC that Judge caught a runner on third base from right field.
In the top of the third inning, Bobby Witt Jr.’s single and Bryce Harper’s double left Team USA with one out and men on second and third base. However, Luis Severino struck out Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber to get out of the inning.
With two outs in the bottom of the second inning, Tampa Bay Rays slugger Junior Camerino clubbed Paul Skeens’ offer over the left field wall to give Miami the lead. Camerino swung his bat and his teammates gathered from the dugout to celebrate.
Caminero, 22, finished ninth in AL MVP with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2025 with 45 home runs and 110 RBIs.
Paul Skeens needed just nine pitches to get through the first inning, sending Fernando Tatis Jr. to left field, Ketel Marte to second base, and Bryce Turan sliding to take a hit off Juan Soto to end the bottom of the first inning.
Luis Severino started the game by striking out Bobby Witt Jr. and Bryce Harper, forcing Aaron Judge to a 1-2 count, but ultimately allowed the three-time MVP to single. Severino hit Kyle Schwarber and advanced to Judge second base, but Gunnar Henderson grounded out to second base to end the threat.
starting pitcher: RHP Paul Skeens
- Bobby Witt Jr. – SS
- Bryce Harper – 1B
- Aaron Judge – RF
- Kyle Schwarber – DH
- Gunnar Henderson – 3B
- Roman Anthony – LF
- Will Smith – C
- Bryce Turan – 2B
- Pete Crowe Armstrong – CF
starting pitcher: RHP Luis Severino
- Fernando Tatis Jr. – RF
- Ketel Marte – 2B
- Juan Soto – LF
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 1B
- Manny Chad – 3B
- Junior Caminero – DH
- Julio Rodriguez – CF
- Austin Wells – C
- Gerardo Perdomo – SS
- bob nightengale: USA 4, Dominican Republic 3
- Gabe Lux: Dominican Republic 6, USA 4
- steve gardner: Dominican Republic 5, USA 4
- Jesse Yomtov: Dominican Republic 4, USA 2
- 2025: 32G, 10 wins, 10 losses, ERA 1.97, IP 187.2, SO 216, WHIP 0.95
- 2024: 23 G, 11–3, 1.96 ERA, 133.0 IP, 170 SO, 0.95 WHIP
Career: 55G, 21 wins, 13 losses, ERA 1.96, IP 320.2, SO 386, WHIP 0.95
Dominican Republic Statistics vs Paul Skeens
The Dominican Republic players have struggled mightily in limited opportunities against Skenes, who made his MLB debut in 2024 and has been one of the most dominant pitchers in the game since then.
- Fernando Tati: 0-0
- Ketel Maas: 0-5
- Juan Soto: 0-3
- Vladmir Guerrero Jr. 0-2
- Manny Machado: 0-0
- Junior Caminero: 0-3
- Julio Rodriguez: 3-6
- Austin Wells: 0-1
- Gerardo Perdomo: 0-7
- 2025 (Athletics): 8 wins, 11 losses, ERA 4.54, G29, GS29, IP162.2, SO124, WHIP1.30
- 2024 (Mets): 11 wins, 7 losses, ERA 3.91, G31, GS31, IP182.0, SO161, WHIP1.24
- 2023 (Yankees): 4 wins, 8 losses, ERA 6.65, G19, GS18, IP89.1, SO79, WHIP1.65
- 2022 (Yankees): 7 wins, 3 losses, ERA 3.18, 19G, 19GS, 102.0IP, 112SO, 1.00WHIP
- 2021 (Yankees): 1-0, ERA 0.00, G4, GS0, IP6.0, SO8, WHIP0.50
- 2020 (Yankees): didn’t play
- 2019 (Yankees): 1 win, 1 loss, ERA 1.50, G3, GS3, IP12.0, SO17, WHIP1.00
- 2018 (Yankees): 19 wins, 8 losses, ERA 3.39, G32, GS32, IP191.1, SO220, WHIP1.14
- 2017 (Yankees): 14 wins, 6 losses, ERA 2.98, G31, GS31, IP193.1, SO230, WHIP1.04
- 2016 (Yankees): 3 wins, 8 losses, ERA 5.83, 22G, 11GS, 71.0IP, 66SO, 1.45WHIP
- 2015 (Yankees): 5 wins, 3 losses, ERA 2.89, G11, GS11, IP62.1, SO56, WHIP1.20
Career: 73 wins, 55 losses, ERA 3.92, 201G, 185GS, IP1,072.0, SO1,073, WHIP1.21
MIAMI — Major League Baseball players have made their voices heard through the World Baseball Classic, expressing a desire to play in the 2028 Olympics, and the players’ union may reach an agreement with MLB that would allow players to participate independent of a new collective bargaining agreement.
Players Association Secretary Bruce Meyer, who fully believes MLB will impose a lockout when the current CBA expires on Dec. 1, said Sunday that an agreement could be reached by Dec. 1 that would allow MLB players to compete in the Los Angeles Olympics for the first time.
But everything changes if the lockout wipes out the entire 2027 season.
– Bob Nightengale
2026 WBC slot
quarterfinals
Semi-final
- Dominican Republic vs. USA – Sunday, Miami (Buy Tickets)
- Italy vs. Venezuela – Monday, Miami (Buy Tickets)
WBC championship match
- Semifinal Winner – Tuesday, March 17th, Miami (Buy Tickets)
Before the semifinal game, Dominican Republic manager Albert Pujols spoke about Team USA starting pitcher Paul Skeens, who won the National League Cy Young Award in his second year in MLB.
“He’s one of the best pitchers, if not the best, in the game,” Pujols told reporters. “He’s tough to hit, but he’s not invincible. I think he can make some adjustments and I hope our guys can do that tonight.”
USA vs. Dominican Republic Baseball History
The Dominican Republic has won two of three times against the United States in the World Baseball Classic.
- 2013 2nd round: Dominican Republic 3, USA 1
- 2017 1st round: Dominican Republic 7, USA 5
- 2017 2nd round: USA 6, Dominican Republic 3
“The whole country is rooting for you. The whole country is rooting for you. There’s a country that’s watched you grow and watch you become who you are these days,” Juan Soto told reporters before Sunday’s game.
“I couldn’t be more proud to be able to give back a little bit of what they have given you over the years.
“I think everyone feels that way when they play in the WBC. They’re just playing for their country, and they’re playing for their families who are there every day cheering them on. So I think that’s what makes the WBC special.”
Before Sunday’s game, Team USA manager Mark DeRosa said: “I don’t want to give away the exact strategy, but I can tell you this: I have absolutely 10 horses that have thrown high-leverage innings in their careers, so we’ll certainly act accordingly. We obviously know our opponent.”
March 15th (Sunday) (Semifinals)
- Dominican Republic vs. United States, 8 p.m. in Miami.
March 16th (Monday) (Semifinals)
- Italy vs. Japan, 8 p.m. in Miami
March 17th (Tuesday) (Championship deciding match)
- Semifinal winner, Miami at 8 p.m.
