Aaron Judge says Team USA baseball ‘fired up’ after hockey gold, wants to ‘copy’ what Olympic teams did

Another version of Team USA, this time on the baseball diamond, is preparing to bring home a gold medal, as the World Baseball Classic (WBC) is set to start this week. 

The U.S. has done well in recent sporting events, including the mens and womens ice hockey teams, who both defeated in the Milan Cortina Games last month. Both games ended with an overtime goal, with Megyn Kellers backhand winning it for the women and Jack Hughes heroics for the men. 

Team USA baseball captain , the three-time MVP for the New York Yankees, made an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Monday, where he admitted those hockey performances were getting his teammates fired up for the WBC. 

“Boys were fired up,” he said when McAfee asked him his thoughts on Hughes goal in particular. “Hughes, man, we sent so many pictures of Hughes in the group text. It was great.

“Its kinda cool that its going to snowball into this. Just the excitement we had when I was with the Yankees, and then with the group text, the boys were pumped up. Now, its WBC, we get the chance to throw on the red, white, and blue and copy what they did.”

Judge added that it was a “special run” both the men and women had. 

Of course, Judge is hoping his two weeks away from the Yankees will be well worth it, as the U.S. seeks revenge for finishing with the silver during the 2023 WBC, losing to Japan in the championship game. 

Judges teammate, first baseman , shared the same sentiment as his captain. Harper has been wearing the Stars and Stripes for some time now, having played for the U-18 national team in 2008. 

He announced he would play for the 2023 WBC team, but he was rehabbing from Tommy John surgery which didnt allow him to play. 

Hes healthy now and excited to represent his country once more. 

“I learned when I was young, when you put U.S. on our hats, its about us,” he explained when it was his turn to wear the headset on McAfees show. “Thats why its only U.S. and not USA. Its about us. So, for our team, its about everybody thats in that clubhouse. No matter where you came from, who you played for, what you got, we dont care because every single day we come out here, its for the greater good of America. What were doing for the people, who were representing.

“Im proud to be American. Im so happy to be in this clubhouse with all these guys and theres no greater feeling than going out there, hearing the national anthem blare over the speakers. Knowing what you represent.”

Team USA begins its WBC schedule against Brazil on March 6 at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas.  

Follow Fox News Digitals sports coverage on X and subscribe to.